The Florida Gators defended their home turf, beating the Kentucky Wildcats over the weekend. Doing so in impressive fashion, the Gators showed they’re on the rise, winning 48-20 behind a strong defense. Fans were impressed on all levels after arguably the best game of the entire Billy Napier era. Defensively, the Gators were stingy once again, suffocating Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff. Offensively, the running game was smooth, and freshman quarterback DJ Lagway put together a solid performance. Although some issues on special teams did emerge, this was still a great showing. Napier found himself square on the hot seat, coming off a game the Gators should have won. Rather than dwell on the loss, the Gators came out with some fire, racking up 48 points and over 450 yards of total offense. Despite early struggles, this team has shown no signs of giving up, which bodes well for Napier and the culture of this program.
The Defense Continues to Prosper
Any ideas that the past few weekends were a fluke have now been erased, this Gators defense continues to grow. Forcing three turnovers, the Gators were stout along their line, routinely forcing stops on short yardage downs. Standing up tall in the red zone, the Florida defense stuffed the Wildcats on fourth down from the two-yard line. Happening when the game was only 13-6, this set the tone for the rest of the affair. Although not the sharpest offense in the country, the defense still flexed its muscles, dictating the game. Even the backups were getting involved down the stretch. Former five-star cornerback Cormani McClain added a pick-six with three minutes to go. Showing this defense has depth at all levels, this is suddenly a dangerous unit. Not allowing their hopes to get too high, fans still have reason to believe that the Gators are on the rise.
Run the Baugh
With starting running back Montrell Johnson Jr. sidelined due to injury, the bulk of the carries went to freshman Jadan Baugh. Baugh rushed for over 100 yards and scored a whopping five touchdowns. Baugh made the most of his opportunity. He had 22 carries in this game. Running angrily, fans are ecstatic about the potential he brings to this team in the long term. Breaking tackles left and right, he showed the staff why deserves the ball even when Johnson returns. In his first start for the Gators, he tied an impressive record. His five touchdowns tied the record for the most rushing touchdowns in a single game in the University of Florida history. Not only did he have a great game, but the playcalling was also much improved. Spacing out the offense, allowed him more running lanes, as teams had to respect Lagway’s ability to run.
Special Teams Issues
While certainly a great night in Gainesville, there was one blip on the radar. As fans know, the special team’s unit has given the Gators fits under Napier. Last weekend, kicker Trey Smack missed his field goal in overtime, and Napier showed poor special teams clock management. Starting with the good news, Smack went two-for-two on field goal attempts, bouncing back nicely. On the negative side, the Gators showed some discipline issues on a kickoff return. After scoring to make the game 27-6, the Gators promptly allowed Barion Brown to return the kickoff 99 yards for a score. These are the plays that need to be erased if the Gators want to take a step to the next level. While on the rise, this Gators team has issues with getting in their own way.
Too Conservative?
Week in and week out, Gator fans have questioned the play calling of Napier, claiming it lacked creativity. While not perfect, he did devise a solid game plan for his freshman quarterback. A dual-threat player with a strong arm, Napier was able to cater to his strengths throughout the night. The most surprising part for many fans may have been the success of the running game. Kentucky was known around the country as having a stingy defense, especially against the run. However, the Gators came to play, with their freshman running back eclipsing 100 yards. Lagway himself added 46 yards on the ground, showing his dual-threat skills. There was a questionable call or two, but the offense looked much more fluid down the stretch. The only complaint would be the two-minute drill at the end of the half, as the Gators chose to simply run the clock out.
Final Thoughts
This may have well been the best game for the Gators during the Napier era. Putting up 48 points and playing well on defense, was an all-around impressive performance. This Gators program may have three losses, but they are clearly on the rise. Beginning to play their best football now, fans see some glimmer of hope for the future. Unfortunately, Florida is rewarded with a showdown against the Georgia Bulldogs. Not getting any easier, the next match-up is a road game to take on the Texas Longhorns. Sitting at 4-3, the Gators still need two more victories to reach a bowl game. With a season-ending trip to FSU expected to be a victory, Florida will need an upset against either LSU or Ole Miss. The Gators will need to play their best ball the rest of the way.
