GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Shane Matthews threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns and Errict Rhett ran for 170 yards and another score Saturday night to lead No. 8 Florida to a 35-0 Southeastern Conference victory over No. 18 Alabama.
The Gators, 2-0, scored 29 points in the second half to record their first victory over the Crimson Tide at Florida Field.
Alabama, 1-1, lost starting quarterback Danny Woodson to an arm injury in the second quarter after he was hit by a Florida defender. Woodson did not return and was replaced by Jay Barker.
Florida, leading 6-0, scored on their second offense play of the second half as Matthews threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tre Everett. The quarterback then converted a two-point conversion attempt with a pass to Alonzo Sullivan.
The Gators went 70 yards on their next drive in 10 plays, with Matthews connecting with Willie Jackson on a 13-yard TD pass to make the score 21-0 with 4:16 left in the third quarter.
Matthews added a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jackson early in the fourth quarter, and Rhett scored on a 3-yard run with 5:36 to go to make the score 35-0.
Florida could manage just two field goals in the first half.
The Gators took a 3-0 lead on a 44-yard field goal by Arden Czyzewski. Florida needed 10 plays to go 28 yards, highlighted by Matthews passes of 13 yards to running back Willie McClendon and 9 yards to Harrison Houston.
Czyzewski added a 48-yard field goal, the longest of his career, as the first half expired. Starting from the Florida 36, Matthews threw an 18-yard pass to Houston and then connected on a 14-yarder to Alonzo Sullivan.
Both teams faced fourth and long situations on their opening possessions in the first quarter thanks to some big defensive plays. Alabama's Robert Stewart sacked Matthews at the Florida 1.
The Gators' Tony McCoy and Myrick Anderson returned the favor by throwing Woodson for a 3-yard loss on first down at the 50. Anderson started for outside linebacker Monty Grow, who was suspended by Florida Coach Steve Spurrier before the game for a violation of team rules. Offensive tackle Brad Culpepper got to Woodson for a 3-yard loss on the next play.
Culpepper also recovered a Woodson fumble as time ran out in the first quarter.
Later in the period, Matthews connected on a 57-yard pass to Everett to give the Gators a first down at the Alabama 34. Matthews was tackled for a 2-yard loss on the next play, and the drive ended with cornerback George Teague intercepting Matthews at the 34.
The game was played in front of 85,069 at Florida Field, the largest crowd ever for football a game in the state.
