JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- His quarterback threw for 407 yards, his tailback ran for 131 more, but when Steve Spurrier started handing out game balls, center David Jorgensen was at the top of the list.

Rex Grossman dives in for what winds up being the game-winning touchdown.(AP)

Jorgensen's outstanding deed: recovering one of his teammate's fumbles.

Potent at one moment, mistake prone the next, No. 6 Florida had to breathe a big sigh of relief Saturday, forced to fight to the end for a 24-10 victory over No. 15 Georgia.

Rex Grossman surpassed 400 yards passing for the second time this month to keep the Gators (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) front and center in the race for the SEC East title. Tailback Earnest Graham returned to health and cracked 100 yards for the first time this season.

The Gators gained 584 yards, their most ever in the 79-game history of this storied rivalry, but two lost fumbles, two interceptions, 106 yards in penalties and a host of other errors kept this game close until the end.

"It was real frustrating," Jorgensen said. "We were getting upset, but we kept our heads, and in the fourth quarter, we knew it was `go time.' That's when we had to put the stake in their hearts, and we did it."

With the Gators protecting a 24-10 lead, Florida safety Marquand Manuel forced a fumble by Georgia quarterback David Greene with 5 minutes left. On the next play, Jorgensen made the play that wrapped up his game ball -- falling on Graham's fumble to preserve the possession.

"I saw the ball pop out, and I wasn't going to let it get away," Jorgensen said.

The Gators milked the clock down to 3 minutes, and only then did they have a firm grasp on their 11th victory in the last 12 meetings against Georgia (5-2, 4-2) in the game known as The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

"It was a funny game," Spurrier said. "We seemed able to move the ball. We thought we could throw against them, and we thought we could run. We did those things pretty well, but we messed up a lot. I don't have an explanation. We're just happy to win the game."

First-year Bulldogs coach Mark Richt, known as a Gator killer for his years of success as an assistant at Florida State, took the Bulldogs home knowing they had plenty of chances, but just couldn't capitalize.

Trailing 17-10, Georgia drove to Florida's 6 during an 8½-minute drive to begin the third quarter. Richt chose to go for it on fourth-and-2, and Greene missed a wide-open Verron Haynes, ending the best drive of the day empty-handed.

"You saw a bunch of guys who fought hard and laid it on the line for the University of Georgia," Richt said. "I'm not proud that we lost, but our day will come."

Anytime soon?

"We might have beat them today if we'd done better in the red zone," Richt said. "Maybe next year. We'll see."

Grossman threw two pretty touchdown passes, the second a 30-yarder to Reche Caldwell, who beat coverage and sped toward the back of the end zone to give the Gators a 24-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Georgia answered by extending the ensuing drive with a fake punt, but a few plays later, Manuel hit Greene from behind and jarred the ball loose, where teammate Andra Davis recovered.

It was Georgia's second turnover of the game, and it was costly, but it wouldn't have meant much had Florida not made so many mistakes earlier.

The Gators, who committed five turnovers in their 23-20 loss to Auburn two weeks ago, gave up three in the first half, which led to all 10 of Georgia's points. Florida also had a penalty and a botched snap in the first quarter to turn third-and-goal from the 1 into a 32-yard field goal from Jeff Chandler.

Then, there were the penalties, 12 of them -- including a few questionable calls that sent Spurrier into a headphone-throwing tizz.

The Bulldogs kept their long third-quarter drive going when Lito Sheppard got hit for a barely detectable holding call on a failed flea-flicker attempt. On Georgia's next drive, an 82-yard march, Sheppard got hit with another questionable hold. But once again, the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize - Billy Bennett missed a 31-yard field goal.

"We made some good plays getting turnovers," said Boss Bailey, who had both of Georgia's interceptions. "But it's hard to be happy about turnovers when we don't get points off them."

Florida also recharged its running game. After netting minus-36 yards rushing against Auburn, the Gators improved to 63-2 since 1990 when a back breaks the century mark. But not all was perfect: Graham accounted for two of Florida's four fumbles.

"This game was good on the one hand, ugly on the other," Graham said. "There was a lot more we could have done. We definitely have a lot of room to improve as far as discipline and making smart decisions."

Greene threw for 258 yards and Fred Gibson, who set the Georgia receiving record last week against Kentucky, caught seven passes for 131 yards.

With the loss, Georgia essentially fell out of the race for the SEC East title. Florida still has games against South Carolina and Tennessee that will help decide who plays for the conference crown in Atlanta on Dec. 8.