Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- Florida-No. 2 Georgia Box Score
- Florida vs No. 2 Georgia Game Thread
- Share your 👍👎
- What names are on your Coaching Hot Board
- OTM: Is there a path to a fourth year
- Ranking UF’s commits from least to most likely to jump ship
Florida had a tough task at hand coming into Jacksonville to face No. 2 Georgia. While UF’s defense had a fantastic first half giving the Orange and Blue a 13-6 lead, injuries, particularly the one to starting quarterback DJ Lagway, ultimately killed Florida’s chances as UGA stomped on the Gators 34-20.
Inside the Gators‘ Instant Analysis takes a quick look at how the game unfolded.
IT WAS OVER WHEN: Back-up quarterback Aidan Warner threw an interception inside his own 20-yard line. On their previous possession, Georgia went 75 yards down the field in seven plays. Then after getting the ball back, on the first play of Florida’s drive, Warner turned the ball over and tripped his opponent giving Georgia the ball on the Gators’ seven-yard line. The Orange and Blue were down by 14 points with three minutes to go.
THEY STOLE THE SHOW: After Trevor Etienne suffered a rib injury, Nate Frazier stepped up big time. The freshman tied the game for Georgia in the third quarter. Although he picked up a taunting penalty for his celebration, the back stayed on track and finished with 82 rushing yards as well as seven yards receiving.
THESE STATS DON’T LIE: Winning the turnover battle should win you football games, but the Gators’ inability to earn first downs cost them. Florida finished the game 3-of-16 on third down. Back-to-back three-and-out drives to start the second half foreshadowed what was to come the rest of the game.
THIS MATCHUP PROVED KEY: With Jason Marshall Jr. out for the rest of the season, Cormani McClain lined up against Dillon Bell. Bell started hot with three receptions for 39 yards in the first quarter. McClain recovered well and didn’t allow his opponent a reception the rest of the half. Bell then came up big in Georgia’s game-tying drive in the third quarter with a 33-yard rush and a drive-saving, diving catch which set up Frazier’s touchdown. Bell ended the night with four catches and 83 total yards.
WHAT A PLAY: After Devin Moore picked off Carson Beck, it only took the Florida offense one play to put six points on the board. On the play-action pass, safety Malaki Starks bit which left plenty of space over the top. Lagway launched a pass deep finding redshirt freshman Aidan Mizell for the 43-yard touchdown.
UP NEXT: The (4-4, 2-3) Florida Gators will travel to Austin and take on the No. 6 (7-1, 3-1) Texas Longhorns. Texas is currently on a bye week. Last time out, the Horns beat No. 25 Vandy 27-24.
Right-click on the images below to open a bigger version in a new browser or click the link at the very top
0 comments