Florida football: Give thanks for every Mullen-led touchdown against FSU

Florida football head coach Dan Mullen is undefeated against Florida State as both a head coach and assistant.

Let’s take a moment to be thankful for every Florida football, Dan Mullen-led touchdown against the Seminoles.

2005 – #19 Florida 34, Florida State 7

QB Chris Leak hits WR Chad Jackson on an 8-yard pass to put the Gators up 7-0 (Q2, 14:54).

A blocked field goal touchdown return and a couple of field goals had put the Gators up 20-0 in the early fourth quarter before Leak hit WR Dallas Baker “The Touchdown Maker” for a 15-yard wide-open touchdown pass to run the lead up to 27-0 (Q4, 14:22).

RB Markus Manson dove over the top for a 2-yard score to cap a six-play, 44-yard drive. UF 34, FSU 0 (Q4, 10:04).

2006 – #4 Florida 21, Florida State 14

The 2006 Gators had a knack for the big play. WR Andre “Bubba” Caldwell turned a wide-receiver screen into a 66-yard flash down the sideline to give the Gators an early 7-0 lead (Q1, 3:15).

WR Percy Harvin followed perfect blocking (thanks, Billy Latsko!) on a counter play out of the Wildcat formation and took it the house 41-yards untouched (Q2, 5:52).

FSU stormed back to tie the game at 14. Leak dug in a led a 10-play, 74-yard drive that culminated in a 25-yard touchdown pass to Baker to give the Gators the go-ahead score. UF 21, FSU 14 (Q4, 10:22).

2007 – #12 Florida 45, Florida State 12

QB Tim Tebow spins out of a sack, rumbles 20-yards before bulldozing the remainder of the way into the end zone. To quote the stands on that day, “TE-BOW…HEIS-MAN!” UF 7, FSU 0 (Q1, 6:28).

Tebow hit new Gibbs High School (St. Petersburg, FL) head coach WR Louis Murphy on a 32-yard shot to the back of the end zone to put the Gators up 14-3 (Q1, 2:46).

Murphy hauled in his second score of the day after beating his man on a simple out-route and breaking a tackle en route to the end zone. UF 21, FSU 6 (Q2, 8:48).

A classic Tebow run into the end zone put the Gators up 31-12 (Q3, 12:14).

Bubba Caldwell burned the coverage and caught a beautiful pass in stride for a 31-yard score to put the Gators up 38-12. Upon reaching the end zone, Caldwell celebrated by hurling the ball into the stands (Q4, 8:20).

Harvin took a hand-off around the left edge, hit the line at full-speed, weaved his way through traffic and broke a few tackles on the way to a 24-yard score. UF 45, FSU 12 (Q4, 3:00).

2008 – #4 Florida 45, #20 Florida State 15

Harvin took the snap out of the Wildcat formation and beat the defense to the pylon. Pure and simple football from this Saturday’s Mr. Two Bits. UF 7, FSU 0 (Q1, 10:52).

Tebow rolled left through a monsoon, stopped, pivoted and hit a wide-open TE Aaron Hernandez on a jump pass to the opposite side of the field to put Florida football up 14-0 (Q1, 0:02).

The ultimate Tebow touchdown run. Four yards, moving the pile and coming out the other side looking like he was covered in war-paint from Braveheart. Watch the replay from behind the line to truly appreciate how well the left side sealed off FSU’s defenders and created a crease for Tebow to slip through on his way to the end zone.

Another touchdown pass to a wide-open Hernandez while Tebow rolls left, this time from 24-yards out. UF 28, FSU 9 (Q2, 0:57).

Three plays after a Brandon Spikes interception to open the second half, Tebow eluded pressure with a quick step to the right and fired a pass just over the outstretched arms of a FSU defensive back into the arms of a sideline-settlin’ Louis Murphy to extend the lead to 35-9 (Q3, 13:54).

Tebow option right…pitches to Demps…touchdown Florida football! The rain-soaked Gators score another while covered in garnet. UF 45, FSU 15 (Q4, 11:48).

2018 – #13 Florida 41, Florida State 14

In a similar fashion this year’s run against Auburn, RB Lamical Perine takes it 74-yards to the house.

WR Josh Hammond slipped out of the backfield into the flats for a quick out and quick score to put the Gators up 20-7 (Q3, 10:53).

One play after a DL Cece Jefferson fumble recovery, QB Feleipe Franks rolled to the right a fired a dart to WR Trevon Grimes to put Florida football up 27-7 (Q3, 6:20).

Mullen’s play design befuddled the FSU defense and left WR Van Jefferson all alone for an easy 38-yard touchdown pass from Franks. UF 34, FSU 14 (Q4, 14:53).

RB Jordan Scarlett took the handoff out of the shotgun, side-stepped left, and sprinted almost untouched into the end zone for the final score in the Gators’ 41-14 blowout over the Seminoles (Q4, 3:56).

No. 8 Florida will host Florida State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.