The Florida Gators have officially ended their SEC schedule and will play two more non-conference games until their bowl game. The Gators will host the Idaho Vandals for the last time as this is their final home game of the season. Florida is coming into this game feeling confident after defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 35-31. The Idaho Vandals go into this game feeling down after losing to the Montana Grizzlies 46-27. This is a game in which Florida would like to blow them out as quickly as possible and get some of their freshmen valuable playing time while keeping their redshirt. Here is the preview of the Florida Gators vs. Idaho Vandals.
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals will be led by their head coach Paul Petrino. He is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Vandals. The Idaho offense is also led by their wide receiver/quarterback Mason Petrino. The junior out of Washington has been pretty solid this season for the Vandals. He has a 61.9 completion percentage with 1,863 yards, fourteen touchdowns and six interceptions. Petrino also has 65 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns. The lead rusher for the Idaho Vandals is Isaiah Sanders. The redshirt-senior has 189 carries for 878 yards and six touchdowns. Three receivers Idaho likes to throw the ball to are David Ungerer, Cutrell Haywood and Jeff Cotton. Ungerer has 66 receptions for 692 yards and four touchdowns. Cotton has 46 catches for 618 yards and six scores. Haywood has 48 catches for 468 and six touchdowns.
On defense, the Idaho Vandals have had their issues has they have allowed over 30 points in the past four games. The lead tackle for the Idaho Vandals is Christian Elliss. The sophomore linebacker has 68 tackles with four tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Kaden Elliss is Idaho’s best defensive player especially in the trenches. The senior linebacker leads the Vandals in tackles for loss with 15. He also leads the team in sacks with seven and 50 tackles. The Idaho secondary has also struggled this season with only three interceptions. Ed Hall, Denzel Brantley and Lloyd Hightower each have an interception on the season.
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are having a great bounce back season after going 4-7 last season. Dan Mullen has made a huge impact on the Florida Gators so far and will look to finish the season strong and try to qualify for a New Year’s 6 Bowl. Redshirt-sophomore Feleipe Franks had a nice game versus South Carolina and will look to build off that game. Franks has a 56.9 completion percentage with 1,756 passing yards, seventeen touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has 209 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Redshirt-junior Jordan Scarlett leads the Gators in rushing with 629 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Lamical Perine has 587 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Kadarius Toney is one of Florida’s biggest playmakers. Another receiver to watch for Van Jefferson. He’s the lead receiver for the Gators with 24 catches for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
The Florida Gators defense has struggled in the past few weeks but did show out in the second half versus the Gamecocks. Junior linebacker Vosean Joseph leads the Gators in tackles with 75 on the year. David Reese is having another very solid season as he has 68 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Junior defensive end Jachai Polite leads the Gators in sacks with 7.5. He also has 11.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumble. Jabari Zuniga has 5.5 sacks on the year with ten tackles for loss and four QB hurries. The Florida secondary is loaded with guys like C.J. Henderson, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Brad Steward. This should be a game in which the Florida defense should get the QB and force some turnovers.
5 Players to Watch: Idaho Vandals
- LB Kaden Elliss
- QB Mason Petrino
- LB Christian Elliss
- WR Jeff Cotton
- RB Isaiah Sanders
5 Players to Watch: Florida Gators
- RB Lamical Perine
- LB David Reese
- WR Josh Hammond
- CB C.J. Henderson
- QB Feleipe Franks
5 Predictions:
- Feleipe Franks throws for over 225 yards and three touchdowns.
- Isaiah Sanders gets in the end zone.
- Florida’s defense gets three or more sacks in the game.
- Christian Elliss leads Idaho in tackles.
- Florida Gators beats Idaho Vandals 51-13.
