Rapid Reaction: Gators hammer Hawkeyes to end skid in Outback Bowl win
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Things got off to a rough start for No. 17 Florida as QB Austin Appleby opened the game with a pair of interceptions on the Gators’ first two possessions. Once Jim McElwain’s squad stopped turning the ball, however, it was smooth sailing as Florida snapped its two-game losing skid with a 30-3 win over Iowa in the Outback Bowl.
What it means: The Gators will get to take some positive momentum into the offseason with a postseason victory that gives them a 9-4 record for the 2016 campaign, which would have likely been 10 if not for Hurricane Matthew and the cancellation of the Presbyterian game.
What I liked: Florida’s banged-up defense put forth a scrappy, hard-fought effort against an Iowa offense looking to ground and pound its way to victory. The Gators were so thin at linebacker that they started walk-on Christian Garcia, and somehow they managed to contain the Hawkeyes when it mattered most. Iowa drove down and threatened to score, but Florida came up with a goal-line stop that kept it a 3-3 game in the second quarter. On a later trip inside the 15-yard line, Iowa was forced to kick a field goal that missed, resulting in another goose egg.
On a play that caught everyone by surprise, RB Mark Thompson turned a little screen pass into an 85-yard touchdown. The junior college transfer’s first season at Florida didn’t go as planned, but his touchdown is a good sign for the future.
There’s no doubt, however, that Jordan Scarlett should be the feature back next season as his 14 carries for 94 yards came against one of the country’s tougher defenses.
What I didn’t like: It was frustratingly fitting that in his final game, senior WR Ahmad Fulwood’s inability to aggressively try to make a play on a ball cost the Gators a turnover. Appleby’s boxscore shows an interception, but the pick was all on Fulwood.
It could have been a much closer game as Iowa drove deep into Florida territory on multiple possessions thanks to some instances of poor tackling but failed to score points. The Gators were arguably due a few breaks.
Key play: Marcell Harris has a knack for making plays at the goal line. He made the stop on LSU RB Derrius Guice that gave the Gators the victory in Week 11, and Monday he came up with another big stuff when Iowa had 4th-and-goal inside the 1-yard line. If Iowa takes a 10-3 lead, it’s a completely different ballgame.
Who’s the man: Following Florida’s touchdown drive that made it 17-3, freshman DB Chauncey Gardner put the nail in the coffin with a pick-six. Eddy Pineiro’s extra point made it 24-3, and it was clear to everyone that Iowa wasn’t scoring three touchdowns in the final quarter. He made a second pick later in the quarter that led to a Pineiro field goal making the game 27-3.
What’s next: All eyes shift to the quarterback position. Graduate transfer Austin Appleby has played his final game. The Gators will enter spring practice with redshirt junior Luke Del Rio and redshirt freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. With McElwain entering his third year in Gainesville, the pressure is on for his offense to show significant improvement in 2017, and that starts at the quarterback position.
The Florida defense is likely to be hit hard by the NFL Draft, but freshmen such as Gardner and LB Vosean Joseph look ready to step up and do their part and lead the defense in 2017.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
