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Florida quarterback Tim Tebow celebrates with Gators fans after the victory over Georgia on Saturday.

The Heisman Trophy winner rambled in from 8 yards out — and the party was on. It could rage for a while. The Gators can clinch the SEC East next week at Vanderbilt, and if they win out, they could end up playing for the national championship.

“It’s a great feeling to be this close,” Murphy said. “We just have to take care of business in Tennessee and we’ll get it done. We’re playing just as good as anybody. We could line up with anybody right now. We’re competing and playing, and passionate about this game.”

Florida players were silent much of the week, following Meyer’s edict to not say anything about last year’s contentious Bulldogs celebration. But it was clearly on their minds, and they sent a strong message on the field.

They held Moreno to 65 yards rushing and forced four turnovers. Stafford finished 18-of-33 for 265 yards, with three interceptions. He was sacked twice and injured an ankle late in the game. X-rays were negative.

The Gators were much more efficient.

Tebow was 10-of-13 passing for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 12 times for 39 yards. Harvin ran four times for 37 yards and caught three passes for another 52.

Georgia’s problems started early. The Bulldogs missed two field goals, had an interception nullified by penalty and bumbled two chances for a touchdown when Stafford missed an open receiver in the end zone and Moreno had a pass slip through his hands.

Georgia also failed to recover an onside kick following Blair Walsh’s 35-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Florida’s Butch Rowley caught the ball on a short hop, and the Gators drove 41 yards to make it 14-3.

The Dawgs looked like they would answer, but Walsh’s 27-yard field goal attempt clanked off the left upright. It was Walsh’s second miss — he also was wide left on a 38-yarder in the first quarter — and followed two blown chances at a touchdown.

“Every game you lose is disappointing,” Moreno said. “We’ve just got to move on. You just can’t win when you have these turnovers.”

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