The Florida Gators are putting the finishing touches on a quirky 11 game schedule (thanks to mother nature canceling the opener vs. Idaho) and needed just a single victory over their final two games to gain bowl eligibility. Luckily for Will Muschamp’s team, FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky came at the perfect time. It’s especially true when you consider a trip to defending national champion Florida State ahead for the regular season finale this week.
Coach Muschamp didn’t have to remind his team that it was only a year ago that then FCS opponent Georgia Southern came into the Swamp and got a victory. Muschamp had plenty of reason to get his team focused but appeared to need little motivation. Several players showed their support of Muschamp on their eye-black and in pre and post game comments to the media.
The players were firmly behind their coach and wanted to win this one for him. The team rallied around Muschamp and the seniors and pulled away in this one early.
The Gators got out to a 17-3 lead after the first quarter, highlighted by a 70-yard touchdown pass from Treon Harris to sixth year senior Quinton Dunbar. It was a nice moment for the long time Gator to catch a touchdown in his final home game.
The Gators continued to lay it on thick in the second quarter, scoring consecutive touchdowns, one a touchdown pass from Harris to Demarcus Robinson, the other a short touchdown run by Jeff Driskel, to take a 31-3 halftime lead. Starting quarterback Treon Harris left the game in the second quarter with a strained quad.
He completed only four of twelve passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Jeff Driskel came on in relief and appeared to be playing a lot more comfortably and instinctive. The junior was 9/11 for 164 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran four times for eight yards and another touchdown. He looked very good in what could have been his final home game as a Gator as well. He will likely transfer in the off-season after losing the job to Harris.
The defense, which has been the strength of this team under Muschamp, played brilliantly yet again in his finale. The allowed only 142 yards of total offense, 63 passing and 79 rushing. It was truly a dominating performance in what was essentially a walk through before next week’s showdown against in-state rival Florida State. They are now giving up an average of only 20.9 points per game, good for 23rd nationally.
The Gators would add three touchdowns in the second half to close this one out 52-3, sending the seniors out a winner in their last game in front of the home crowd at the Swamp. However, make no mistake about it, this was a glorified scrimmage. All of their focus now is on the regular season finale against Florida State.
It won’t be their season finale because with Saturday’s win the Gators become bowl eligible for the third time in four years under Muschamp and the first time since 2012. The head coach will not coach the bowl game. It was announced Saturday that defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin will handle head coaching duties leading up to and including the bowl game.
That means the Saturday showdown against Florida State will be Muschamp’s final game. The team showed that they were clearly focused last week and firmly behind their coach as they sent him out a winner in his last game at home, but they would like nothing more than to give him another in his final game. They would also be able to ruin Florida State’s second consecutive perfect season and possibly a spot in the College Football Playoff. The stakes are high for this already intense rivalry.
The Gators have already beaten Georgia this season, but nothing would be as satisfying as ending Florida State’s perfect season.
The Gators may appear to be out matched, but their defense should keep them in the game. Treon Harris is healthy and will lead the offense in this game. They have moved the ball much better with him under center and will rely on their running game. Matt Jones and Kelvin Taylor will need to come up big as they did against Georgia to pull the upset.
The Seminoles have shown they are vulnerable in numerous games this season. Oklahoma State, Clemson, NC State, Notre Dame, Louisville, Miami, and Boston College all gave them all they could handle. The Gators have superior athletes to most of those teams. Not to mention, Will Muschamp was also the last head coach to beat FSU.
The combination of a fired up, passionate team, a strong ball control running game, and a dominating defense might be enough for a team to finally pull out the upset.
It will be an intense showdown this week in Tallahassee. The Gators showed this weekend they will pull together and do whatever they can to pull out the upset that sends college football into complete chaos.
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