Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Miami 37, No. 7 Florida 20

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ The Miami Hurricanes danced around like champions on the Sugar Bowl logo after their final triumph. <br><br>Next comes an Orange Bowl vigil to see if a share of the national title will

Wednesday, January 3rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ The Miami Hurricanes danced around like champions on the Sugar Bowl logo after their final triumph.

Next comes an Orange Bowl vigil to see if a share of the national title will be theirs. And they'll be rooting for their archenemy, Florida State.

``I'm a big Seminoles fan now,'' fullback Najeh Davenport said after the second-ranked Hurricanes defeated No. 7 Florida 37-20 on Tuesday. ``I wish I had a Florida State hat. Go Bobby.''

Bobby Bowden leads No. 3 Florida State against No. 1 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Wednesday in the Bowl Championship Series national title game. If 12-point favorite Florida State wins, the title in The Associated Press media poll is up for grabs and the voters will have to decide whether Miami is their champion.

Miami held a considerable 53-point lead over Florida State in the last AP poll.

``I don't think we need to convince anyone,'' linebacker Dan Morgan said. ``We just need to sit back, let things happen and not worry about it. If we don't get a national championship, it won't make it any less of a season. But it would be great to have one, because I feel we definitely deserve it.''

One thing is for sure: Miami (11-1) is the best team in the state of Florida, after its 27-24 victory over Florida State on Oct. 7 and a victory in the renewal of their rivalry with the Gators.

``They've got my vote,'' Florida defensive end Alex Brown said. ``They beat the best two teams in the state of Florida.''

But were they impressive enough against the Gators (10-3)?

The game wasn't secure until Davenport scored with 4:21 left after Florida quarterback Rex Grossman's second interception of the night. Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis celebrated by running onto the field, kissing a Miami player, then drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

It was a fitting moment on a night that was filled with happiness, but was far from perfect.

``We didn't expect to come in here and blow them out,'' receiver Santana Moss said. ``We knew they had a lot of talent. We just had to grind and grind and see how long they could fight.''

The fight seemed to last a little too long for comfort.

After Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey threw an interception, Florida went ahead 17-13 on Earnest Graham's 36-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.

But Dorsey responded by moving Miami 80 yards in 12 plays, capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Williams. A third-down, roughing-the-passer penalty by Gerard Warren kept that drive going.

After Florida stalled, Daryl Jones returned a punt 44 yards to put the Hurricanes in striking range, then Davenport responded with the play of the game.

Linebacker Marcus Oquendo-Johnson had perfect coverage on Davenport and looked like the intended receiver, but the fullback reached over his helmet and snatched the ball away for a 10-point lead.

It was missed opportunities like that, plus 11 penalties for 109 yards, that had coach Steve Spurrier steaming after Florida's first trip to the Sugar Bowl in four seasons turned sour.

``We got what we deserved,'' Spurrier said. ``Miami played more disciplined and with more desire. They were a better team. They were better coached and played with more of a purpose. I'm embarrassed.''

While the Gators might be a year away from competing for the title themselves, they offer poll voters a good gauge to consider when they make their decision. They can stack Tuesday's result against Florida State's 30-7 victory over Florida in November.

They'll also look at Miami's 10-game winning streak, an offense that averaged 42 points and a defense that made big plays when it had to all season.

Miami showed a little of all that against Florida _ but also failed to capitalize on abundant opportunities.

When Graham scored on the play after Keiwan Ratliff's interception early in the third quarter, the Gators had the lead and the Hurricanes were simply concerned with winning the game, not the national title.

Experience helped the Hurricanes do just that, and they started to look like champions toward the end.

Clinton Portis ran for 97 yards, most after leading rusher James Jackson went out, to keep the Miami offense moving. Moss had 89 yards in receptions even though he was hurting.

Jeremy Shockey, who caught the winning touchdown pass against Florida State, caught four passes and scored a touchdown, which gave the Hurricanes a 10-7 lead early.

Miami won its 10th straight since its 34-29 loss to Washington put it in what coach Butch Davis called a ``single-elimination'' situation.

``We came out to prove a point, and I think we did that,'' Morgan said. ``It's a 37-20 victory over a great team in the Sugar Bowl. We deserve a national championship in my mind, no doubt.''

If they get it, it will go with the titles they won in 1983, '87, '89 and '91.