Postgame Analysis: Florida Gators (6-5, 4-4) v. Ole Miss Rebels (8-3, 4-3)

Florida once again rises to the occasion to take out the Rebels on Senior Day.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst

The Florida front smothered Jaxson Dart for four sacks (Chris Spears)

With a sold out crowd in attendance the Florida Gators honored their seniors with the pageantry and respect befitting any young man that has played for the Orange and Blue. After kickoff the Florida program took yet another step forward in knocking off the Ole Miss Rebels in a thrilling 24-17 win against a team thought to be the best in the country. DJ Lagway was efficient again and the return of Montrell Johnson Jr. allowed the Florida Gators to play complimentary football for the second week in a row and give the program it’s biggest win of the Napier era.

What We Thought: Florida would be challenged once again by an offense that was running at max efficiency and a defense that had dominated it opponents in the trenches all season. Ole Miss featured arguably the nation’s best offense featuring a collection of solid receivers, a dynamic quarterback, and a versatile scheme that has created headaches for opposing defenses. Ole Miss was scoring close to 41 points per game while limiting opponents to just 13 points per contest. The Ole Miss defensive line was leaning on its foes to the tune of 4.5 sacks per game and 10 tackles for loss. The Florida defense was beginning to find itself but Ole Miss was a different animal, particularly with the return of receiver Tre Harris to the lineup. The Gators manhandled an LSU offensive line for seven sacks last week and would need to pressure Jaxson Dart into mistakes and when opportunities presented themselves get him on the ground. Offensively the Gators were undefeated when DJ Lagway starts and finishes the game and despite being limited had shown the poise inside the pocket to make throws when needed. The running game would need to be solid as the Gators would look to control the clock and convert on short yardage downs to continue drives.

What We Got: Florida has found something. A football team that had 6% chance to get to six wins after beginning the season 1-2 has emerged from the basement to put together an eight week run of promising football. Yesterday the Gators stood at the gate of their own backyard and took everything Ole Miss threw at them. The Gators limited the big plays and pushed around a defensive front that was used to having its way. The Florida defense forced three turnovers and sacked Jaxson Dart four times limiting the ability of Ole Miss to get anything going consistently. Ole Miss was surrendering just two sacks per game and the Gators front was able to pressure Dart with a four man rush allowing the Gators to play coverage in the secondary and limit big plays. On offense the Gators continue to play inspired football behind Lagway who completed 10 of 17 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. More impressive was the ability of Florida to run the ball at a high level against a defense that had not been pressed by the running game all season. Florida rushed for 165 yards including 107 from Montrell Johnson Jr. who returned to full game action for the first time since October 12th. The three back attack of Johnson, Jaden Baugh, and Ja’Kobi Jackson ran the ball well all day and were key in protecting Lagway on passing downs. Through the air the Gators would find success against the Ole Miss secondary with receivers Elijah Badger and Chimere Dike showing their experience in big games including a huge catch by Dike for 41 yards to set up the winning touchdown. The Gators used the Ole Miss offensive model against them and the result was a second consecutive win against a ranked opponent for the first time under Napier.

Jake Salughter (66), DJ Lagway, and Montrell Johnson Jr. survey the defense (Chris Spears photo)

The Skinny: Billy Napier has used the term “complimentary football” to the point that it nauseated those that root for and evaluate his football team. The truth of the matter is to Napier’s credit, football teams that can master the art of this concept usually find themselves in the winners circle more frequent than others. Napier and staff made a point to change the way the team conducted themselves throughout the week and the results have been noticeably different. The Gators continue to prove that football teams get the opportunity to improve on a weekly basis and if you embrace that opportunity good things can happen. On Saturday the Gators took the lessons learned from the success of the LSU win and applied it to take out a much better football team seven days later. That is what winning football looks like, and while there is always room for improvement, the Gators have ignored the noise and continued to lay the foundation. “You have to earn the right to win”, Napier stated. Which echoes what the Gators have been doing in the bunker of a long college football season. Many projected the Gators to finish with eight wins, a tally that with a win against FSU and a bowl opponent seems reachable. What may have been is obviously worth the discussion but what may be is what has the people excited about the future.

Final Score: Florida 24 Ole Miss 17 (Prediction-Ole Miss 34 Florida 17)