Miami Hurricanes ©	Florida Gators
Played September 7, 2002 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field Gainesville, Florida

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	23	7	0	.767	12	1	0	.923	8	3	0	.727	3	3	0	.500
Florida	2	5	7	0	.417	3	3	0	.500	2	3	0	.400	0	1	0	.000

 

The top-ranked, 1-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker traveled to Gainesville to meet the 6^th ranked, 1-0 Florida Gators & first-year coach Ron Zook.  Neither team had been challenged in their opener as Florida had defeated Alabama-Birmingham & Miami rolled over Florida A&M.  Florida missed a field goal on their opening drive &, after both teams exchanged punts, Hurricanes' All-Big East PK Todd Sievers got Miami on the board first with a 53-yard field goal.  Sievers connected from 38 yards early in the 2^nd quarter to give the Hurricanes a 6-0 lead.  Florida took the lead when RB Ernest Graham scored from 18 yards &, after a blocked Miami punt; Gators' PK Matt Leach added a 34-yard field goal giving Florida a 10-6 advantage.  The Miami offense started clicking on the next drive as All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey drove the Hurricanes 80 yards hitting All-Big East WR Andre Johnson for the 7-yard touchdown pass giving Miami a 13-10 lead.  After Florida turned the ball over at their own 19-yard line when they mishandled a punt on 4^th down, Dorsey connected with WR Ethenic Sands on a 10-yard touchdown pass giving the Hurricanes a 20-10 halftime lead.  Miami opened the 3^rd quarter with the offense still rolling as Dorsey directed a 79-yard scoring drive finishing with an 18-yard touchdown pass to RB Jason Geathers.  After another Gators' punt, a Dorsey pass was intercepted by LB Byron “Bam” Hardmon who returned it 26 yards for a Florida touchdown but Miami still led 27-16 after Leach missed the extra point kick.  After another exchange of punts, the Gators drove 88 yards to the Miami 5-yard line but Hurricanes' All-Big East S Maurice Sikes intercepted Florida's QB Rex Grossman’s pass & returned it 97 yards as Miami took a 34-16 lead.  Miami was driving for another score as the 3^rd quarter ended but Dorsey was intercepted to give the Gators hope as the 4^th quarter started.  Florida was unable to capitalize as their third snap of the 4^th quarter saw Sikes intercept Grossman again.  Four plays later, Dorsey connected with Geathers for their second touchdown in the game, this time from 19 yards, giving the Hurricanes an insurmountable 41-16 lead.  Florida was unable to threaten the rest of the game as Miami claimed the victory.  Dorsey finished with 202 yards passing with 4 touchdowns but 3 interceptions & All-American RB Willis McGahee added 204 yards rushing for the Hurricanes.  Grossman threw for 191 yards but 2 interceptions & Graham added 89 yards rushing with his score.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Gators finished 8-5.  Florida would play for The Belt again in 2006.