Post Game Analysis: Florida Gators (1-0,0-0) v. Long Island Sharks (0-1,0-0)

The Gators handle their first game assignment. A clean, healthy game to start the season.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst, Host-The Lowdown with Loren Meadows

The Florida defense dominated LIU allowing only 87 yards of total offense (Chris Spears photo)

The Florida Gators were one of five SEC teams with an FCS opponent to open the season. The Gators welcomed Long Island to The Swamp in what many coined as a pseudo-preseason game for the Gators after a training camp that saw many key players including quarterback DJ Lagway limited during preseason preparations. After three years of Top 25 foes to open the season, the Gators would get a dress rehearsal of sorts in the visitors from Long Island.

With that, the Gators who have patterned their organization after many NFL teams, would go into this game looking to play a clean, mistake free game and leave the contest as healthy as possible with the nation’s toughest schedule looking them in the face.

The Gators were looking for a solid premier. Play balanced football on offense and continue the ferocious defense that saw them dominate the back quarter of 2025. Finally, set a standard in all three phases to be a consistent football for the entirety of the season.

What We Thought: The Gators would dominate Long Island with a clear advantage on both lines of scrimmage. Long Island would look to use motion and shifts to confuse the Florida defense and maybe slip a back out of the backfield to get a quick one on the more talented Gators. On offense Florida would look to establish the running game early and then hit a couple deep shots to its talented group of receivers and take command early. DJ Lagway would be a factor with his size and running ability and add stress to an overmatched Long Island front as the Gators would score points early and coast into the second half as the Gators would clear the depth chart to get a look at its deepest roster under Billy Napier.

What We Got: The football was clean, the defense played well, and the Gators seemed to leave the game healthy. The Florida defense looked connected, communicated well, and played with the same fire that saw them take a drastic jump at the end of the 2024 season. The Gators shut out Long Island holding them to just 87 yards total offense and forcing two turnovers deep in LIU territory. Myles Graham and Kamran James led the Gators with five tackles while George Gumbs Jr. added 1.5 tackles for loss. Bryce Thornton recovered two fumbles and the defense played as expected putting up its first zero since 2021. 

Offensively the Gators started slowly through the air, but the run game was dominant early and often as the Gators used their size advantage to create running lanes for Jaden Baugh who rushed for 104 yards and touchdown on just nine carries. Florida was efficient through the air as DJ Lagway shook off early rust to throw for three scores completing 15 of 18 passes for 120 yards. Backup Trammell Jones who surprised many with his rise up the depth chart was sharp as well completing 12 of 18 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

While many expected Lagway to show off the arm talent that made him an instant star last season, Long Island did a great job of mixing drop coverages and showing Lagway some looks he may not have been prepared for. Possibly the brightest spot of the evening was the play of freshman receiver Vernell Brown III. The legacy freshman who gained early praise from Napier for his meticulous preparation and effort was sharp last night grabbing three catches for 79 yards. Brown would save his best for last as his third catch has already been packed away as a catch of the year candidate. Brown would get behind the defense on a Lagway scramble and would make a one-handed acrobatic catch that reminded many of another one-handed grab by Ricky Pearsall Jr. in 2023.

The Skinny: It was Long Island, but it was clean, and the Gators left the game intact physically. That was the goal. The offense wasn’t great but the nucleus of it all missed substantial time in preparation for the season. There is a lot to clean up before the next contest but that’s why they call it coaching. The organization looks to be as together as  they have been since Napier’s arrival, and this is a team that is built to find ways to win due to its improved depth and the ability to take the hard look in the mirror.

If there was a blemish on the night it was the inconsistency in the kicking game that can be the difference in close games. But as any golfer will tell you, sometimes your driver or putter just isn’t there on that day. Outside of that, the Gators will get ready for an 11-game gauntlet that begins with an in-state foe coming off one of its biggest wins this decade. Many saw the first two weeks as a tune-up before a huge trip to Baton Rouge. As South Florida showed Thursday, that tune-up has turned to buckle-up. These Gators are built to dance and as DJ Lagway admitted “I need to and will play better”. Winning is hard, preparing and playing well against an inferior foe even harder. The Gators checked the box last night and will look to do the same next week.

Final Score: Florida Gators 55 Long Islan Sharks 0 (Prediction Florida 45 LIU 0)