University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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lyle ' s talented toe downs mississippi state JACKSON, Sept. 26—The educated toe of tackle Bob Lyle sent the pigskin spiraling 41 yards through the uprights with one second left to play in the game, and the Gators downed Miss. State 16-13 in a dramatic finish. The Gators had taken an early 3-0 lead in the contest when Lyle kicked a 28-yard field goal with 6 minutes left in the first quarter, after a 53-yard Gator drive bogged down. Early in the second period, Bulldog speedster Marcus Rhoden, from Florida, broke through right end and raced 77 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. Justin Canale ' s conversion was good and with 11 minutes left in the half, State led 7-3. The Gators were not to be denied, for on the ensuing kickoff they drove 81 yards in 19 plays to score. Highlights of the drive were four completed passes by sophom ore Steve Spurrier and the hard running of Jack Harper. It was Harper who ran through tackle for five yards to put the Gator touchdown on the scoreboard, and with two minutes left in the half, Jimmy Hall kicked the extra point upping the margin to 10-7. After a scoreless third period, Rhoden 132

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Harper shines 131

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state, 1043 entered the act again by racing 40 yards on the first play of the final quarter to push State out in front again. Canale ' s conversion attempt was blocked and the score remained 13-10. A fumble by the Bulldogs late in the fourth quarter gave the Gators a big break at the State 23 where Allen Trammell recovered the hall. The Gators made it down to the 16 where they were held, and Lyle came off of the bench to kick a 33-yard field goal tying up the game and thus set the stage for his dramatic last minute boot.