STARKVILLE, MISS. - Florida struggled in the red zone, but its defense managed to keep Mississippi State out of the end zone, and the Gators remained undefeated with a 29-19 victory Saturday night.
No. 2 AP/No. 1 BCS UF (7-0, 5-0 SEC) drove within the MSU 20-yard-line and closer on six opportunities but came away with a touchdown on only one of those trips - a 8-yard run by Chris Rainey in the fourth quarter that gave the Gators a two-possession lead.
"We're pressing like crazy," coach Urban Meyer said. "I think the head coach wants to score so damn bad - we're not using to [struggling in the red zone]. If I'm not used to it, the people more important than me in that room aren't used to it.
"I could feel it. I'm pressing."
But once again the Gators' defense bailed out the offense, holding the Bulldogs to a pair of field goals. MSU running back Anthony Dixon, who entered the game as the nation's 10th-best rusher, finished with 53 yards on 15 carries.
Mississippi State quarterback Tyson Lee threw three interceptions, including one that Dustin Doe returned 32 yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs did not convert a third down until midway through the fourth quarter, finishing the game 2 for 12.
MSU went three-and-out on four of its six first-half possessions, with the other two ending in an interception and a field goal.
But yet the Gators struggled to put away the Bulldogs due to two Tim Tebow pass being intercepted and returned for touchdowns by Johnthan Banks.
Banks' first pick came right before halftime in the end zone, and he returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to cut Florida's lead to 13-10. His second came when Florida was pinned on its own 2 after a punt. Tebow was hit as he threw, lobbing a ball well short of where he intended, and Banks caught it and ran 20 yards for the score.
Florida cornerback Joe Haden said the Gators' defense tries to block that all out when it keeps running on the field with the game on the line.
"Sometimes it gets to us when you keep coming back out there," cornerback Joe Haden said. "But we just feel like every time we go out there (defensive coordinator Charlie Strong) says Don't worry about that, you're on the field, so you have to stop them."
