John Amis / AP

Florida's Percy Harvin runs for a 67-yard touchdown run during the second half of the SEC title game.

After Arkansas stormed ahead 21-17, Florida reclaimed the momentum when Reggie Fish made a ghastly error on a punt return.

Filling in for the Razorbacks’ regular returner, who didn’t make the trip because of an injury, Fish inexplicably tried to field a punt near his own goal line with an over-the-shoulder catch. He couldn’t hang on, the ball squirted into the end zone and Pierre-Louis fell on it to put the Gators back ahead.

Harvin extended the lead with his second TD. The receiver took a handoff from Leak on what appeared to be an end around, only to stop suddenly and head back in the other direction. He found a huge hole and didn’t stop running until 67 yards later.

Harvin finished with six carries for 105 yards and had five catches for another 62 yards.

Florida shut down Arkansas’ powerful run game, limiting Heisman Trophy-contender McFadden to 73 yards on 21 carries — 50 yards below his season average. He wasn’t at full speed after hurting his ankle in the opening period.

The Gators, playing in their first SEC title game since they won the last of six conference titles under Spurrier in 2000, got off to a start that was reminiscent of the “Fun ’n’ Gun” era.

Embattled kicker Chris Hetland punched through a 33-yard field goal — his longest of the season — and Leak scored on a 9-yard run after Fayson’s block. The Gators were really cruising when Harvin scored off a throw from Leak, who went by 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel as the leading passer in Florida history with the 37-yard throw.

Instead of folding, Arkansas made a rousing comeback. The defense really stepped up, taking advantage of two big mistakes by Leak. He was picked off by middle linebacker Weston Dacus, leading to a quick TD for the Razorbacks. Robinson scored one himself, stepping in front of a lateral-type pass from Leak and taking it all the way to the end zone.

But the Gators weren’t going to let this chance get away. When Ryan Smith made an interception in the end zone with about 3 minutes left, the celebration was on. Meyer was doused with Gatorade — that’s appropriate — while the fans chanted “BCS! BCS! BCS!”

“We deserve a shot,” Meyer said. “I have great confidence that the University of Florida will get that opportunity. I really do.”

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