Rapid Reaction: Gators pull away late after struggling with UMass
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida didn’t give fans a whole lot to cheer about in a 24-7 win over UMass.
The No. 25 Gators were supposed to cruise against the Minutemen. USA Today recently ranked all 128 FBS teams, and UMass checked in at No. 127. The Gators were 36.5-point favorites. At halftime, the score was 10-7.
And then it was the same score at the end of the third quarter. So much for locker room adjustments.
In the fourth quarter, the Gators finally added 14 points to secure the victory.
What it means: Once again, it’s the offense that’s struggling in Gainesville. The quarterback is new, but the problems are the same.
UMass gave Florida the short pass, and the Gators couldn’t get anything going much of the night. Del Rio may have a strong grasp of the playbook, but the Gators are unlikely to be able to dink and dunk their way through the SEC.
What I liked: It’s only UMass, but Jordan Scarlett (13 carries, 70 yards) was the Gators’ top ball-carrier of the night. Coach Jim McElwain had said earlier in the week that Jordan Cronkrite was first on the depth chart at running back, but he missed a few practices due to injury. Scarlett won the starting job with Cronkrite out, and it looks like he’s determined to keep it.
LB Alex Anzalone had a solid night, coming up with a well-timed sack and a pass breakup in the backfield.
Eddy Piñeiro hadn’t kicked in a real college game before, but he did well Saturday on extra points, kickoffs and most importantly, field goals (40, 48, 49).
What I didn’t like: UMass’ touchdown drive was downright ugly for the Gators. The defense had 35 penalty yards, including a pair of personal fouls that allowed the Minutemen to stay on the field and eventually punch it in. On the scoring play, DL Jordan Sherit and LB Jarrad Davis whiffed badly. That can’t happen in the red zone when SEC play starts next week.
On the following drive, Florida took points off the board to go for a 4th-and-1 on the UMass 5-yard line. The Gators brought in a jumbo package of big blockers and gave it to Mark Thompson, who at 6-foot-2, 237 pounds is supposed to be the power back. They couldn’t convert, and that doesn’t bode well for the coming weeks.
UF’s offensive line had way too many blown protections. The Gators should have dominated up front.
Who’s the man: While the game didn’t come down to a field goal, Piñeiro’s the man tonight. His two field goals kept the Gators from ever going into panic mode and ultimately put the game out of reach when it became a three-score difference with 2:26 reamining.
Players expressed confidence in him all offseason, and you see why. Life’s easier when you have a kicker.
Key play: Del Rio’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Powell in the fourth quarter, in which the speedster slipped out of a tackler’s grip, gave a crowd of 88,121 a chance to finally exhale. UF went up 21-7 and closed it out.
What’s next: Florida opens SEC play by hosting Kentucky in The Swamp. Coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats have taken the Gators to the wire the last two times but have been unable to snap UF’s 29-year winning streak.