Florida's Tim Tebow (15) is sacked by South Carolina's Chris Culliver (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
(AP)
As he watched South Carolina inch closer to a go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter, Florida coach Urban Meyer knew it was time for one of his Gators to make a play.
Defensive end Justin Trattou was more than ready.
Trattou made a game-changing interception and No. 1 Florida finished a perfect regular season in the Southeastern Conference with a 24-14 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.
Tim Tebow tied the SEC career touchdown mark and Florida (10-0, 8-0) went undefeated in the league for the first time since Steve Spurrier's 1996 national champions.
"Every week, someone has to step up. It's usually someone different every week," said Trattou, a junior playing with a painful torn left biceps.
Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia had closed the third quarter when he cut back around two pursuers to pick up a first down on fourth-and-2. South Carolina (6-5, 3-5) eventually got to the Gators 22, trailing 17-14 and ready to strike.
But Garcia's pass was tipped and wound up in Trattou's hand. The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder ran along the right sidelines as a wall of Florida defenders lined up to block during a 53-yard return.
"He looked kind of athletic there," Tebow joked of Trattou.
Four plays later, Tebow made South Carolina pay with a 1-yard TD run that matched LSU great Kevin Faulk for most in the SEC at 53.
Trattou plays and practices with an injury most people would spend weeks rehabbing. He told Meyer after it happened in October that unless he needed surgery, he'd continue playing.
"If it's a matter of dealing with a little pain here and there, it's not going to keep me out," Trattou said.
The Gators remained on track for a third national title in four years. They again called on their SEC-leading defense to save things against former coach Spurrier, who looked as if he'd figured out a few cracks in Florida's front line.
By the end, Spurrier could only throw off his headset in frustration at another close call against his old school.
