Web posted January 2, 1998

The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Forget the offensive imagination of Steve Spurrier. No. 6 Florida let its best running back carry the load, which made all the difference against Penn State in the Citrus Bowl.

Fred Taylor pounded the No. 11 Nittany Lions for a career-high 234 on 43 carries, and Jacquez Green caught two touchdown passes from different quarterbacks in a 21-6 victory Thursday.

Florida (10-2) had no trouble stopping Penn State, which was without All-America running back Curtis Enis and big-play receiver Joe Jurevicius, who had accounted for half of the offense and 60 percent of the touchdowns.

Penn State (9-3), which gave up a school-record 452 yards to Michigan State in its last game, never could find a solution for Taylor, who broke a 35-year-old Citrus Bowl record for most rushing yards.

Even more devastating for the Nittany Lions was the loss of Enis, who was suspended for accepting a suit from a sports agent to wear at an awards show.

Penn State had minus-1 yard rushing at halftime, when it trailed 14-3, and was twice stopped on fourth-and-goal from inches away.

Taylor, a senior whose career was marred by two suspensions for misdemeanor crimes, finished it in style. Although his longest run was only 15 yards, he continually picked up chunks of yardage that wore down Penn State.

His 234 yards broke the Citrus Bowl record set by Jim Gray of East Texas State in 1953, and was the best ever by a Gator in a bowl game. Only Emmitt Smith, who had 316 yards against New Mexico State in 1989, has had more rushing yards in a game for Florida.

For the second straight game, Florida rotated quarterbacks every other play. Actually, all three of their quarterbacks figured in the scoring.

Noah Brindise scored on a 1-yard sneak to open the game and Doug Johnson threw a 35-yard TD pass to Green on the next possession for a 14-0 lead just seven minutes into the game.

Johnson hurt his right shoulder on a tackle at the end of the third quarter, but Spurrier stuck with the rotation, and Canadian freshman Jesse Palmer threw a 37-yard touchdown to Green on his first pass.

Still, it didn't matter who Florida used at quarterback or how. Taylor and the defense were more than enough.

Penn State finished with only 139 yards, its worst performance of the year, and had only one drive longer than 25 yards. Chris Eberly had 53 yards on 14 carries, while Mike McQueary was 10-of-32 for 92 yards and was intercepted three times.

When the Lions had their chances, the Gators' defense took them away.

Penn State linebacker Brandon Short came on a perfectly timed run blitz, knocked the ball loose on the exchange and then recovered it 22 yards later at the 6 late in the first half. But on fourth-and-inches, Tim Beauchamp stuffed Chris Eberly.

The Lions got one more chance before halftime when Kenny Watson returned a punt 52 yards to the 5. McQueary tried to pass on fourth-and-inch and was picked off by Mike Harris.

Spurrier ran his assortment of razzle-dazzle plays -- a fake double reverse, a flea-flicker for 19 yards, a tight end reverse -- but Taylor carried the Gators.

He carried the ball five times to start the game and had 40 yards, and Noah Brindise finished off the 80-yard drive with a 1-yard run on third down.

Penn State's longest drive of the half -- 8 yards -- ended when Fred Weary stepped in front of Titcus Pettigrew for an interception. One play later, Johnson lofted a pass in the corner of the end zone to Green, who tipped it away from David Macklin and came down with the loose ball as he was going out of bounds.