Anemic first half dooms Gators against top Dawgs, 42-20

Florida’s futility turned to fire and inspiration as the Gators scored on their opening drive of the half, forced two Georgia turnovers on its first two possessions and converted them into 10 points, trimming the deficit to 28-20.

BY CARLTON REESE

GatorbaitMedia.com

The Florida Gators were spared the humiliation that haunted all their players and fans during a 28-3 halftime deficit Saturday; nonetheless, the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs left its friendly confines of Jacksonville with yet another victory against an outmanned opponent. The undefeated Bulldogs shook off a gallant third-quarter effort from Florida that turned rout into doubt, but in the end, resulted in a 42-20 Georgia victory for the fifth time in the last six meetings.

An emotionless, outmanned and outcoached Florida Gators team seemed to have mailed in the game and likely the season when the Bulldogs scored a touchdown late in the first half to take a commanding 25-point lead into the locker room. At that point, Florida had managed just two first downs and 78 yards, only saved by a 52-yard field goal by Adam Mihalek that kept UF’s NCAA-record scoring streak intact.

Florida’s futility turned to fire and inspiration as the Gators scored on their opening drive of the half, forced two Georgia turnovers on its first two possessions and converted them into 10 points, trimming the deficit to 28-20 and reminding the world that the Bulldogs’ near-disaster against Missouri several weeks ago was more reality than fluke.

At that point, Georgia’s reeling offense responded to some rare pressure, driving 78 yards on six plays, capped by Daijun Edwards’ 22-yard touchdown run that stretched the lead to 35-20. Florida’s ensuing possession spelled the end when a critical penalty flag for defensive pass interference was waived off and the Gators failed to convert on 4th-and-6 from near midfield.

With generous field position, Georgia mixed runs and passes en route to marching six plays for the game’s final touchdown with 13:58 remaining in the game. Twice, Florida would drive inside the Georgia 20 but both times the Gators would fail to convert on fourth downs.

“We dug ourselves a hole in the first half,” said a visibly-shaken Florida head coach Billy Napier afterward. “Certainly they responded the right way. We were able to get a score, create some takeaways and get it back to a game, but ultimately weren’t able to do enough to take advantage of some opportunities we had.”

Gator quarterback Anthony Richardson, who hobbled throughout the entire first half following a hit on the sideline during the opening possession, shined at least in the second half. Having the run removed from his repertoire the first 30 minutes, Richardson returned to form with his legs and his arms the final two quarters. He finished 18-of-37 passing for 271 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

The touchdown came following Amari Burney’s interception of a Stetson Bennett pass at 28-13 in the third quarter. On 3rd-and-6 from the UF 22, Richardson connected with a wide-open Xzavier Henderson, who raced 78 yards untouched down the right sideline for a score that brought the Gators to within eight.

“The call we had was a quick out to Ricky (Pearsall) and I was looking to throw that, but I saw the corner squat,” UF quarterback Anthony Richardson said about the TD pass. “I just knew the whole shot was going to be there eventually, so I waited and saw Xzavier there.”

Of course, Gator fans will forever cry about two pass interference calls that played a huge role in this outcome, and despite the obvious and regrettable whine factor involved, they may have a case. The first came with Georgia leading 21-3 late in the second quarter and the Bulldogs faced with 3rd-and-10 at the Florida 37 with 39 seconds to play.

Georgia tight end Ladd McConkey pushed himself free from the Florida defender and caught a pass to the Florida 7. The official threw the flag, which inexplicably went for defensive pass interference. Even the UF broadcast team of Sean Kelly and Shane Matthews failed to hide their apoplexy. Certain of interference called on McConkey, they were audibly stunned to hear the official’s call, which drew praise only from the face-painted yahoos with silver spikes protruding from fake shoulder pads.

Instead of 3rd-and-20 from midfield, the Bulldogs were given 1st-and-goal at the 7 and punched it in two plays later, making it 28-3 instead of a more-manageable 21-3 at half, a margin that would come back to bite the Gators.

The second questionable call came with Florida facing 2nd-and-7 from its own 48 and down 35-20. Richardson threw deep for Ricky Pearsall down the left sideline and Pearsall was shoved from behind long before the arrival of the ball, prompting the official nearby to throw his flag. What looked like an obvious pass interference call on Georgia that would give Florida a first down in Georgia territory turned into a simple incomplete pass as the head referee waived off the flag without explanation. Two plays later, the Gators would fail to convert on fourth down, setting the Bulldogs up near midfield and leading to a touchdown that put the game out of reach.

As has been the case all season, the Florida defense surrendered huge chunks of yards, this time giving up 555 to the Bulldogs. Bennett finished 19-of-38 for 316 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Those yards included the curious no-call on McConkey’s third-quarter reception and another on an absolute fluke when Burney batted a pass away, only for McConkey to haul it in and race 73 yards for a score that put Georgia up 21-3. The play was indicative of the entire first half when everything went Georgia’s way and Florida could not scrape out a yard.

“They had a great pass rush and our communication was a little bit off and we didn’t execute that well,” Richardson said. “It’s about starting fast and finishing fast. At the beginning of the game, we’ve got to play like we did in the third quarter.”

Georgia opened the scoring on its second possession, completing an 8-play, 66-yard drive capped by Edwards’ 1-yard TD run. After Florida’s second straight 3-plays-and-out possession, Georgia went 80 yards in eight plays with Kenny McIntosh running in from the 2 for a 14-0 lead.

After another 3-and-out by the Florida offense, the Gator defense responded with Jadarrius Perkins’ interception of a Bennett pass on the first play of the second quarter. That would only lead, however, to the Gators’ fourth straight 3-play drive and punt.

Down 28-3 to start the second half, Florida’s offense finally came to life with a 13-play, 75 drive aided at one point by a Georgia personal foul call on fourth down. Except for one 10-yard completion, the entire drive was produced via the ground game which was virtually non-existent throughout. Trevor Etienne would cap the drive with a 3-yard TD run to make it 28-10.

Photo Credit - Chris Spears

On Georgia’s first play of the half, Burney forced a McIntosh fumble that was recovered by Trey Dean at the Bulldog 27. That set up a Mihalek 26-yard field goal and a 28-13 margin.

“I gained a level of respect for that group in terms of how they responded at halftime,” Napier said. “I think today might have been a turning point to some degree relative to what is really in there, in your heart, in your soul and between your ears.”

The Gators fall to 4-4, the bright spot being that all four losses have been competitive against teams that are all now or were once highly ranked. Of course, Georgia is No.1, while Tennessee is ranked No.3. Kentucky and LSU were both ranked Saturday and the Gators do have a win against 14th-ranked Utah. That win must now seem a decade ago for Florida, where fans are not likely comforted with the knowledge that this season’s schedule has turned into one far more brutal than expected. To the fans, year one of the Billy Napier era is already unofficially in the books and the recruiting bonanza most certainly to take place thanks to a new $80 million athletic facility won’t reap any dividends on the field for another year or two.

For Napier, who has lost all three of his rival matchups this year, Florida State on a Friday night in Tallahassee will be his last chance to bag one the fans really want more than anything. But up next is a trip to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies, a team with lots of promise that has grossly undelivered this year and no doubt sees the visiting Gators as an opportunity to help salvage their sinking ship.

For Georgia, the 8-0 Bulldogs host Tennessee for what is essentially the SEC East Division championship game, a bitter pill for any Gator fan to swallow, but one that is necessary while they wait for Sept. 2, 2023 and the promise of a fresh new season.