Post-Game Analysis: Florida Gators (4-4, 2-3) v. Georgia Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1)

Florida shows grit and determination despite key injuries to take Georgia to the brink.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst

Derek Wingo and the Florida defense made life hard for Carson Beck (Chris Spears photo)

Florida arrived at the Cocktail Party without it’s starting quarterback, running back, two corners and a Partridge in a pear tree with a mindset to make a statement regardless of who was suiting up. Losers of three straight in this series, the Gators have clearly been playing better of late and coming off a bye week was preceded by a dominant performance against Kentucky. The Gators were poised to go toe to toe with the #2 team in the nation and put the rest of the SEC on notice.

While Billy Napier has been under fire for most of the season, his team has continued to play with energy, a commitment to one another, steadily becoming one of the SEC’s most improved teams. DJ Lagway would be making just his second conference start but has displayed a confidence not seen by many freshman and definitely not those in the SEC. Florida would play well in this game and make life difficult for the Georgia Bulldogs in what would be an entertaining game. 

What We Thought: The Gators have been playing much better on both sides of the ball but the defense had shown the most improvement. Playing a simpler brand of football, the defense was playing with better alignment and technique leading to a more physical, aggressive bunch.

Napier had changed the way the team practices, creating a more competitive environment built on accountability which seemed to benefit the team as a whole. In Georgia, the Gators would be facing a highly skilled bunch led by quarterback Carson Beck who had struggled to find a rhythm early in games throwing nine interceptions this season.

The Gators would look to force Beck into off-platform throws that would lead to mistakes that would keep Florida in the game despite being matched up against a more talented team. Georgia had also struggled to run the football and if Florida could continue to play well against the run the defense could force Georgia to become one-dimensional and stay in attack mode creating havoc in the Georgia backfield on passing downs.

Offensively, DJ Lagway would be making his first start in this rivalry and despite the talent of the Georgia defense his dual-threat ability would be key. While Lagway was leading the FBS in throws of 20+ yards, it would be his legs that would prove to be key. With Montrell Johnson Jr. not ready to return and Jaden Baugh and Jakobi Jackson playing well, Lagway as a runner would be another part of the offensive gameplan that Georgia would have to account for. If the running game could be successful Lagway would be able to get the ball to Chimere Dike and Elijah Badger over the top of the Florida defense and keep the Georgia defense guessing. 

What We Got: The Florida Gators had a solid game plan and looked on their way to possibly changing their fortunes. Then the injuries started to pile up and none was more important than Lagway who left the game in the second quarter with what looked like a hamstring injury. Until that point the Gators led 10-3, surrendered no sacks and had forced Carson Beck into two interceptions where he looked under attack and confused.

The loss of Lagway left the Gators with walk-on Aiden Warner to lead the team. While Warner did produce two drives that produced ten points, the loss of arguably the best freshman signal-caller at Florida since Tebow was tough on the offense.

Defensively, the “creeper” defense was playing some of its best football again. The Gators pressured Beck and were able to keep the running game at bay in order to force Beck into third and long situations and get off the field on key third downs. The defense, like the offense, was bitten by the injury bug and that proved to be key in the game.

The Gators found themselves without their top for corners by the end of the contest and were so depleted that Trikweze Bridges, a natural safety, was moved to corner to finish the game. While Carson Beck was 25 of 40 for 309 yards and two touchdowns, it was the three interceptions that made Beck’s day look like empty calories if not for the injuries. The loss of Lagway and others clearly determined the outcome of this game.

Freshman running back Jaden Baugh (Chris Spears photo)

The Skinny: “We are at the University of Florida, no moral victories”, stated receiver Chimere Dike. The Florida-Georgia game is a must win, and a fourth straight loss will not sit well with those that love and support this program. There is however an asterisk that can be applied to the 2024 edition and that is what could have and what should have been. In sports there are moments where on one day it all comes together. All the planets align, and every bounce of the ball seems to go your way. It looked like the Gators were headed for one of those magical nights and then the football gods reared their ugly head once again. When asked if his team was snake bit Napier responded “I don’t believe in that.” What Napier does believe in is the systems that his organization has in place and the group of young men that he has in his locker room. While many have been critical of Napier and even called him aloof, the team has improved and you can visibly observe a football team that believes in what the coaching staff is teaching.

The Gators showed up at the playground ready to take out their next door neighbor and nearly pulled off the feat. While Georgia has also dealt with key injuries, those have been injuries that have allowed the team to deal with over time. The Gators lost their ammo in real time and unfortunately it was tough to reload on the fly. Napier spoke of the character and ability of his team stating, “Ultimately, when it starts to work and you play toe to toe with some of the better teams you start to believe. For the first time since I've been the head coach here, we showed up and we believed we could beat that team.” Nothing could have been more honest. Maybe the things that the outside world never gets to see that are going on inside the Heavener Center are leaning toward a program that is on the cusp of a major turnaround. A belief in one another, a team that plays with poise, character and truly understands the next man up mentality. While it is normal to analyze the x and o’s, lets tip our hat to the jimmy’s and joe’s. What could have been, but hey, what might be?

Final Score: Georgia 34 Florida 20 (Prediction Georgia 35 Florida 17)