Rapid Reaction: Gators finish 4-7 after blowout loss to FSU
By Corey Long
Published:
Jilted by Chip Kelly earlier in the day, the Florida Gators compounded the misery by losing their fifth consecutive game to in-state rival Florida State, 38-22, on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffith Stadium.
Florida is 1-7 vs. FSU since Jimbo Fisher took over the Seminoles’ program, including 0-4 in the Swamp.
The Gators (4-7) dug themselves into a 17-point hole in the first half behind a typical problem this season — turnovers.
In fact, two of the Seminoles’ first-half touchdowns came on the defensive end. FSU took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Gators quarterback Feleipe Franks was sacked and stripped by Bryan Burns. FSU linebacker Jacob Pugh picked up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown.
The Gators struck back after Marco Wilson intercepted a James Blackman pass at the FSU 24. Three plays later, Mark Thompson rushed 10 yards through the middle of the line to tie the game 7-7.
Franks, however, threw his first interception to Levonta Taylor at the Florida 20, and Blackman connected with Nyquan Murray three plays later for a touchdown and a 14-7 Seminoles lead in the second quarter.
After the Seminoles (5-6) added a short field goal from Ricky Aguayo to make the score 17-7, Franks threw his second interception to Taylor, who returned this one 18 yards for a touchdown and a 24-7 lead.
Franks, however, bounced back nicely on the Gators’ final drive of the half. He completed a 10-yard pass to Josh Hammond on a 3rd-and-4 to the FSU 44 and a 15-yarder to Tyrie Cleveland on a 4th-and-6 to the FSU 25. Franks was 6-of-9 on the drive and finished it with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Powell. Eddy Pineiro’s point after was blocked, making the score 24-13 at the half.
The game settled down in the second half. Florida continued to play good defense and got a 45-yard field goal from Pineiro to make the score 24-16.
With both teams playing field position, FSU threw down a dagger with a 7-play, 74-yard drive that ended on a 10-yard touchdown run by Cam Akers. Blackman completed a 39-yard strike to Ermon Lane at the Florida 15 to set up the score. The Seminoles led 31-16 early in the fourth quarter.
Franks almost threw his second pick-six of the game when Matthew Thomas jumped an out route and appeared to return the ball for a touchdown. Thomas, however, celebrated too early and let his knee touch the ground at the 1. To make matters worse, Thomas was flagged for a celebration penalty, moving the ball back to the FSU 16.
The Seminoles offense, however, bailed Thomas out. Running back Jacques Patrick gained 15 yards on a 3-and-14 and Blackman hit Auden Tate on a 3-yard touchdown to make the score 38-16 and effectively put the game out of reach.
Florida scored a late touchdown on a Franks’ pass to Powell, who finished with 9 catches for 75 yards and 2 TDs.
The Gators will finish with four wins for the second time in five seasons, a shocking turn of events for a program that went 210-57-1 from 1990-2010.
With Kelly out of the coaching mix, Florida will turn its attention to UCF coach Scott Frost and possibly Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen and Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, among others.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
