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Football

No. 24 Virginia Falls to No. 6 Gators 36-28 in Orange Bowl

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP)
Lamical Perine scored on a 61-yard run in the opening minute and didn't stop after that, totaling 181 yards rushing and receiving with three touchdowns Monday to help No. 6 Florida beat Virginia 36-28 in the Orange Bowl.

Perine carried 13 times for a career-high 138 yards rushing at the end of a so-so senior season.

But Perine was too quick and speedy for the Cavaliers, as his dash through their secondary on the first series showed. He also scored on a 10-yard run, caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Trask and was chosen the game's most valuable player.

The win means Florida (11-2), led by second-year coach Dan Mullen, will likely finish in the Top Ten in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2008-09. The Cavaliers (9-5) lost their final two games, but still posted their highest win total since 2007.

Trask capped a storybook junior season by throwing for 305 yards.

Florida totaled 549 yards, including a season-high 244 rushing, and didn't punt until midway through the third quarter.

The Cavaliers' offense tried valiantly to keep up. Bryce Perkins threw for 323 yards and four scores.