Make no mistake about it, the "Gator Stomp" is not what gave Georgia its 42-30 win against UF last season. The real momentum-shifting moments came from running back Knowshon Moreno.
In fact, the Bulldogs' infamous celebration never would've happened if not for Moreno, who accounted for all but two of Georgia's yards on its opening touchdown drive, which he capped with a 1-yard scoring leap.
Moreno punctured the Gators' defense for three touchdowns on the day - all at crucial times - and racked up 188 yards on 33 carries, the highest total against UF since then-Miami tailback Willis McGahee tallied 204 yards in 2002.
Those numbers have made him the top target for UF defenders heading into Saturday's showdown, as the Gators still feel the effects from his performance.
"We know that he really kind of did us dirty last year, so we want to come out and get him," cornerback Joe Haden said.
The Gators have done well against power backs like LSU's Charles Scott and Tennessee's Arian Foster (less than 40 yards each), but small, shifty runners like Mississippi's Dexter McCluster and Arkansas' Michael Smith have had much more success.
Moreno is the perfect mix of the two.
He has the quickness to turn short runs into long gains and the toughness to gain valuable ground in short-yardage situations, talents that were on full display last year in Jacksonville.
Moreno's second score came on a 10-yard run to erase UF's only lead of the day, and he set up the Bulldogs' next touchdown with a 42-yard scamper to the 2-yard line.
His 3-yard plunge extended Georgia's lead to 42-30 with less than four minutes to play, and he sealed the game with a short run on third down that allowed the Bulldogs to run out the clock.
"He just has it all," UF defensive line coach Dan McCarney said. "You can go (watch film) and it'll take you about four hours to find one guy bringing him down. You don't see it because it just takes lots and lots of guys to get to the ball. He's a sensational player and one of the best in college football. That's not any overstatement, believe me."
To make matters worse for the Gators, it looks like they'll be getting Moreno at his best.
He has averaged more than 167 yards in his last two contests - Vanderbilt and LSU - and was named Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week in both contests.
Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford credits the offensive line with Moreno's recent surge, as the unit has had to overcome injuries in recent weeks.
"We settled on a group of guys that are really doing a good job of opening holes and just getting the job done for him," Stafford said. "I don't know if his running style has changed or anything like that. I just think it's the experience around him."
McCarney hopes to use a nine or 10-man rotation on the line to gang tackle Moreno and pressure Stafford, and coach Urban Meyer said Monday that stopping Moreno will be the key to limiting the passing game's effectiveness.
Last year, the Bulldogs didn't have to rely on Stafford's arm because of Moreno's play, but he still made a big impact, going 11 of 18 for 217 yards and three touchdowns, although he did throw an interception that was returned for a UF score.
"If you don't have to defend the run, defending the pass isn't that hard," Meyer said. "It's defending the run and the pass. That's why we strive to have balance, and they do as well. And they do have balance."
