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Statement game

Florida's Percy Harvin escapes from Arkansas defender Matterral Richardson during the first quarter. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Florida's Percy Harvin escapes from Arkansas defender Matterral Richardson during the first quarter. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

ATLANTA – Halfway through the Southeastern Conference title game, Florida knew it had a shot at playing for an even bigger championship.

The Gators may just get it, thanks to freshman Percy Harvin and an opportunistic special teams.

Harvin scored two touchdowns and No. 4 Florida put up two more scores off a blocked punt and a botched return, leading the Gators to a wild 38-28 victory over eighth-ranked Arkansas on Saturday for their first SEC crown since 2000.

Now, Florida has its eye on another prize. No. 2 Southern California, which had the inside track to face top-ranked Ohio State in the BCS championship game, blew its chance with a 13-9 loss to UCLA.

The Gators (12-1) are hoping their win over Arkansas was impressive enough to vault them past third-ranked Michigan in the BCS standings. The media, coaches and computers will answer that question today.

“Michigan already had its chance,” said Harvin, referring to the Wolverines’ lone loss, which was to Ohio State. “I think we deserve a chance.”

When everything is settled – and no matter what happens, there will be plenty of griping – Florida either heads to the desert to face Ohio State in the Jan. 8 BCS championship game or settles for a spot in the Sugar Bowl as the SEC champion.

Arkansas coach Houston Nutt threw his support to the Gators.

“This is the toughest conference in America,” Nutt said. “If I was sitting on that other sideline, I would be saying, ‘Absolutely.’ I wish them all the best and hope they have an opportunity to go.”

Harvin, who was chosen MVP, caught a 37-yard touchdown pass and broke off a 67-yard run to the end zone. Florida scored its first touchdown after Jarred Fayson broke up the middle to block a punt, then went ahead for good when Wondy Pierre-Louis fell on a fumbled punt in the end zone late in the third quarter.

Three TD passes were thrown by someone other than a quarterback.

Florida receiver Andre Caldwell hooked up with Tate Casey on a 5-yard score. Arkansas’ star running back, Darren McFadden, threw a 2-yard TD to fellow runner Felix Jones, who also hauled in a 29-yard scoring pass from receiver Cedric Washington.

Arkansas (10-3) certainly didn’t make it easy on the Gators, rallying from a 17-0 deficit after being held without a TD in their first two appearances in the SEC title game.

But in the end, Florida made a few more plays than the Razorbacks, who will have to settle for a spot in either the Capital One, Outback or Cotton bowls.