How about those Florida Gators??? As recently as the fourth quarter of last week’s game against Tennessee, the Gators seemed destined for a 7-5 record and a third tier bowl game. One 38-10 beatdown of Ole Miss later and here they are now at 5-0, and seem to be as logical a national championship pick as any.
Here are some of the notable takeaways from the Gators’ demolition of the Rebels:
It was over when… Will Grier hit Antonio Callaway for a touchdown with 20 seconds left in the first half to make it 25-0 and it was clear Ole Miss had no answers.
Play of the game… Grier made a tremendous throw off his back foot to DeMarcus Robinson for the first of five Gator touchdowns. Brandon Powell’s long catch and run for a touchdown later in the half was a close second.
Game ball goes to… Grier, who fought off the flu to go 24-29 for 271 yards and four touchdowns.
Stat of the game… 4. Just like in 2008, turnovers did the favored team in. Only this time, it was Ole Miss who couldn’t hold onto the ball, coughing up the ball three times (losing all of them). Add a Chad Kelly interception and you’ve got a grand total of four turnovers.
What to be proud of… Other than destroying the third ranked team in the country, you mean? Well, the offensive line in particular stood out. The Gators’ line really struggled against Tennessee, but put those struggles behind them and turned in a solid performance against the much hyped Nkemdiche-led Rebel defense.
What to work on… Florida’s defense is pretty much a bend but not break defense, but they may have bent a little more than Geoff Collins would have liked. An 80 yard Rebel drive was wasted because of a missed field goal, and all the Rebels had to show for a grinding 70 yard drive to start the third quarter was a field goal. But just because Ole Miss forgot how to punch the ball in the end zone doesn’t mean every team Florida plays going forward will.
Bottom line: Florida is 5-0, and a legitimate national championship contender. You read that line right. Go Gators.
Scoring recap:
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
MISSISSIPPI | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
FLORIDA | 13 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 38 |
Scoring plays:
Team | Time | Play | OMS | FLA |
FLORIDA | 1st 9:09 | D. Robinson 36 yd pass from W. Grier (PAT good) | 0 | 7 |
FLORIDA | 1st 6:48 | J. McGee 2 yd pass from W. Grier (PAT failed) | 0 | 13 |
FLORIDA | 2nd 6:53 | B. Powell 77 yd pass from W. Grier (2-pt conv. failed) | 0 | 19 |
FLORIDA | 2nd :20 | A. Callaway 15 yd pass from W. Grier (2 pt conv. failed) | 0 | 25 |
MISSISSIPPI | 3rd 5:25 | G. Wunderlich 22 yd FG | 3 | 25 |
FLORIDA | 4th 12:46 | J. Powell 31 yd FG | 3 | 28 |
FLORIDA | 4th 6:29 | J. Powell 22 yd FG | 3 | 31 |
FLORIDA | 4th 6:20 | J. Cronkrite 1 yd run (PAT good) | 3 | 38 |
MISSISSIPPI | 4th 4:04 | M. Pack 7 yd pass from C. Kelly (PAT good) | 10 | 38 |