Cristian Garcia and Josh Hammond turned away as the ball was snapped under the “Welcome to Death Valley” sign. David Reese prepared to dive over the line of scrimmage, anticipating a run up the middle from LSU’s Derrius Guice. And Marcell Harris, then Florida’s starting safety, toed the goal line, the length of his body separating LSU from the end zone.
Three seconds left. Six-point game. A stop meant a Florida win and another Southeastern Conference eastern division championship. A touchdown meant a loss and a serious blow to the program.
Guice took a pitch in the backfield and slowed down, apparently confused by the playcall.