The Florida Gators have completed their gauntlet of a schedule, getting revenge in the process. In the last two seasons, they have come up short against their bitter rival, the Florida State Seminoles. With the Seminoles entering this matchup with a lowly 2-9 record, the belief was that the Gators would get their revenge. Although not pretty, they led the entire game on the way to a 31-11 victory. Head coach Billy Napier finally has his first winning season while at the program. With a swarming defense, Florida held FSU quarterback Luke Kromenhoek largely in check. Offensively, this wasn’t an ideal performance, however, it was enough to get the job done. Now, for the first time in two years, the Gators can shift their attention to a bowl game. Sitting at 7-5, they should find themselves in a competitive bowl and will wait a weekend to learn their fate.
Gators Get Revenge: FSU Analysis
Shaky Offense
Despite putting up 31 points on the Seminoles, the Gators’ offense left plenty to be desired. Leading 14-0 at the half, they only managed to put together one impressive drive. Their first touchdown came way via a fumble as they started at the FSU 14-yard line. Not only did they struggle to move the ball, but quarterback DJ Lagway also threw an interception. Deep into FSU territory, it appeared that a receiver ran the wrong route leading to confusion all around. Hoping to settle in the second half, they were still forced to punt for half of their drives. Lagway finished 14/22 with 133 yards passing two touchdowns and an interception. Far from his best performance, he still showed flashes and made some impressive throws on the run. Luckily for the Gators, the running game eventually got going. Montrell Johnson Jr. helped seal the deal with his 65-yard touchdown burst.
FSU Fumbles
The Seminoles could not get out of their own way. They fumbled a whopping eight times and lost five of those. An absurd number of fumbles, three of them were absolute killers. Early in the game, FSU appeared to finally gain some offensive momentum until running back Lawrance Toafili put one on the ground. Later, after forcing a three and out, the Seminoles muffed the punt deep inside their own territory. Never able to get out of their own way, these miscues happened at inopportune times. The worst and most heartbreaking came with less than a minute to go in the third quarter. After a 13-play 68-yard drive, the Seminoles fumbled a pitch at the Florida three-yard line. The game was only 17-3 at the time, and the Seminoles were very much in this game. With Florida scoring after the fumble, all momentum quickly left.
Sack Party
In the last few games, this Florida defensive line has begun to blossom. After an impressive seven sacks on LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, they put together another complete performance. This defense sacked Kromenhoek eight times, putting constant pressure on the young freshman. With defensive tackle Cam Jackson and linebacker Jaden Robinson earning two each, players at all levels were contributing. Not only did Florida have eight sacks, but they also added a ridiculous 14 tackles for loss. With George Gumbs Jr. and Tyreak Sapp each registering two, this was a complete effort. The Gators were keen on getting revenge, especially on the defense. The last time Florida played in Tallahassee, the defense had no answers for quarterback Jordan Travis. Allowing an abysmal 45 points, they were outperformed at all levels. Now flipping the switch, this defense has quickly become a strong suit for this young Gators team.
Flag Planting
With this being rivalry weekend, tempers were at an all-time high. One thing that led to many brawls was the idea of flag planting. Starting during the noon games, Michigan pulled off an all-time upset against the number two-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Taking place at Ohio State, Michigan players planted their flag at the 50-yard line. This led to a brawl that was eventually stopped with mace by police officers. Although not to the same capacity, we saw something similar in the Florida game. After the win, the Gators went out and planted their flag at the FSU 50, completing their revenge. Naturally, players took offense to this leading to a scuffle. Florida State coach Mike Norvell was involved, ripping the flag away from the players. This led to tensions being high at the postgame handshake. Expect the NCAA to put rules in place to stop this behavior quickly.
Final Thoughts
This game was a tale of two programs having opposite seasons. The Florida Gators were pegged by many as a candidate to be the worst team in the SEC. After starting 1-2, all hope looked lost, and Napier appeared to be on his way out. After the bye week, however, this looked like a new team. Although not yet ready to compete for a championship, they showed real fight down the stretch. Now 7-5, the Gators will gear up for a bowl game coming up in the next few weeks. For the Seminoles, this season has been an absolute disaster. Starting at number 10 in the rankings, they didn’t earn their first win until their fourth game. Finishing at a dismal 2-10, the Seminoles had one FBS win and finished dead last in the ACC. This team will undergo serious changes this offseason, on both sides of the football.
