GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Hawai'i defense dreams of situations where plays break down and opposing quarterbacks are forced to improvise.

But, as he proved time and again yesterday, Florida's Tim Tebow is not just any other quarterback.

There are reasons Tebow won the Heisman Trophy last year as a sophomore, and on a day when he hardly had remarkable individual statistics and his NCAA record streak of rushing for a touchdown and passing for a score in the same game ended at 14, Tebow nevertheless impressed in a 56-10 statement-making victory.

In a sometimes ragged opener, Tebow turned busted plays into big gains, either packing the ball and running himself or scrambling until he could find a receiver.

"I have a renewed respect for him," said UH coach Greg McMackin. "I've seen him on film and he looked good. But in person he looks even better."

Tebow ran but nine times for 37 yards and completed 9 of 14 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown in just under three quarters. But it was the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder's ability to create on the run and turn busted plays into gains that had the Warriors talking.

"We have two really good defensive ends, David Veikune and John Fonoti, and he broke containment on us several times," McMackin said.

Linebacker Adam Leonard, who recorded UH's only sack of the game in taking down Tebow, said, "He's a playmaker; he does what he had to do to win. If a play breaks down, he has the ability to keep it going and make it into even a bigger play. He did that today. That's testament to how good he is."

It was former UH coach June Jones, in promoting Warrior quarterback Colt Brennan for the Heisman last year, who called Tebow a "system quarterback," challenging his throwing ability.

But it was left to McMackin to give Tebow his due yesterday. "I thought he threw the ball (well)," McMackin said. "I think he is a great quarterback and I see why he won the Heisman."

Leonard said: "He makes plays and runs that offense very well. I definitely take my hat off to him."

KELLY HEARS IT

UH placekicker Dan Kelly was something of a crowd "favorite" among the Florida student section behind the Warriors' bench and stretching much of the sideline.

Before the game and during it they often took up the chant,

"Kelly ... Kelly ... " among other things.

"I guess I was the only one they knew," said Kelly, a senior. "Maybe the hecklers loved me."

Kelly, who did not see duty until the second-half kickoff and didn't attempt a placekick until the fourth quarter, had to put up with the razzing until nailing a 30-yard field goal with 9 minutes, 3 seconds left in the fourth.

At first, however, when a 25-yarder was blocked, the noise mushroomed. But a delay-of- game penalty on UH afforded a 30-yard redemptive shot.

NOTES

An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 UH fans attended the game. Afterward, many of them formed a path to the Warriors' buses, cheering and encouraging the players on their way out of the stadium.

The game, which drew 90,575, was the 117th consecutive sellout at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Florida and 10th largest all-time crowd there. It was the second-largest crowd to see UH play, trailing only the 92,138 at Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 2006.

The loss was UH's first on the road since Sept. 23, 2006, a 41-34 defeat at then-No. 25 Boise State.

Two Floridians appeared for the Warriors, wide receiver Malcolm Lane of Fort Lauderdale, and running back Khevin Peoples of Tampa. Lane had one pass reception for six yards and Peoples one carry for minus one. Backup wide receiver Rick Taylor of Ponte Vedra suited up but did not play.