GAINESVILLE, Fla. – What started as a football game became a track meet.

Western’s defensive backfield could not match up with the speed of the Florida Gators receivers in the Toppers’ 49-3 loss on Saturday.

The game was terminated after a one hour and two minute delay with 8:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.

All Florida freshman quarterback Tim Tebow had to do was throw a deep pass to his sprinting wide receivers and tally the touchdowns.

“The biggest thing early was Tebow scrambling,” head coach David Elson said. “He made a couple plays when we thought we had him and he threw the ball behind us.”

Tebow rushed for 38 yards and passed for 300 yards for four total touchdowns.

Senior defensive back Marion Rumph said the back end of the defense didn’t hold up very well.

“The secondary is the team’s last line of defense,” Rumph said. “And when we don’t do good, big plays happen.”

Elson said it was a technique issue.

“They just got behind us and that’s not supposed to happen,” he said.

The Toppers accumulated 204 yards of total offense.

“I felt like we went out there and played hard, and gave a lot of effort,” Rumph said. “We’re going to go back to Bowling Green and we’re going to work.”

Reach Will Perkins at sports@chherald.com.