The No. 2 University of Florida football team (6-1, 4-1 SEC) amassed 171 yards rushing and collected five sacks against 11th-ranked Auburn on Saturday night, but suffered their first loss of the season by a score of 27-17.

Senior wide receiver Dallas Baker (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) caught his sixth touchdown pass of the year in the second quarter, a 15-yard scoring strike from senior quarterback Chris Leak (Charlotte, N.C.) that capped an eight-play, 69-yard drive, for UF’s first touchdown of the night. Freshman quarterback Tim Tebow (Jacksonville, Fla.) scored on a 16-yard second-quarter run, his team-leading fourth rushing touchdown of the season, to notch the Gators’ second touchdown of the evening. Senior kicker Chris Hetland (Leesburg, Ga.) got Florida on the scoreboard with a 22-yard first-quarter field goal.

The 171 yards gained by Florida on the ground were 51 yards more than the 120-yards-per-game average the Auburn defense owned heading into the contest. Freshman wide receiver Percy Harvin (Virginia Beach, Virginia) led the way for the Gators on the ground, collecting a career-high 66 yards. His longest run of the night was a 47-yarder to set up Tebow’s touchdown, during which he appeared to be stopped behind the line on the right hash before reversing field and finding open space on the left sideline. Junior receiver Andre Caldwell (Tampa, Fla.) added 47 rushing yards, giving Florida wideouts 113 yards on the ground against the Tigers.

Leak finished the game 9-of-17 for 108 yards, one touchdown and an interception. The scoring pass to Baker marked the 90th touchdown that Leak was responsible for in his career, moving him into a tie for fourth with former Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen on the Southeastern Conference’s all-time touchdown responsibility list.

The Florida defense harassed Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox throughout the game, collecting five sacks, breaking up four passes and hurrying him twice. Sophomore defensive end Derrick Harvey (Greenbelt, Md.) tied his career high with two sacks, accounting for a loss of 13 yards, and recovered his first career fumble as part of the defensive effort. Senior defensive tackle Marcus Thomas (Jacksonville, Fla.) led the way for the Florida defense with 10 tackles, including two for a loss of eight yards. Thomas has tallied a combined 18 tackles in the Gators’ last two outings, leading the team on both occasions.

Florida heads into a bye week before returning to the field on Oct. 28 for their annual clash with SEC foe Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla.