In front of a crowd of 101,821 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., No. 1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) defeated No. 7 Florida (4-1, 2-1), 31-6 Saturday, ending Florida’s streak of 24 regular-season wins, 16 SEC wins and 13 consecutive road wins. Florida head coach Urban Meyer fell to 2-3 against Alabama with wins against the Crimson Tide in 2006 and 2008, and losses in 2005, 2009 and 2010.
Florida recorded 279 total yards to Alabama’s 273, but the Gators’ four turnovers and seven penalties proved costly in the loss.
Junior quarterback John Brantley (Ocala, Fla.) completed 16 of 31 passes for 202 yards, but the Crimson Tide’s 170 rushing yards carried Alabama and held the Gators without a touchdown for the first time since Oct. 1, 2005, when Alabama defeated Florida 31-3.
Junior wide receiver Deonte Thompson (Belle Glade, Fla.) led the Gators in receiving yards with three receptions for 60 yards, an average of 20.0 yards per reception.
The Crimson Tide started the game with a 10-play drive that featured five first downs, but the Gator defense limited them to a field goal at the 5:32 mark in the first quarter.
The Gators fired back with a seven minute, seven second drive and made it to the Alabama two-yard line before freshman Trey Burton threw his first-career interception to Nico Johnson in the end zone.
On Alabama’s next drive, running back Mark Ingram recorded the first touchdown of the night to begin the second quarter. The Crimson Tide defense held the Gators to zero first downs in two drives on offense between two more touchdowns, but senior punter Chas Henry (Dallas, Ga.) was able to score his first-career field goal to make the score 24-3 at the half.
Florida returned to the game in the second half with a 23-yard kickoff return by sophomore Andre Debose. The Gators drove down the field with four first downs in nine plays and Henry recorded his second-career field-goal to make the score 6-24.
After forcing an Alabama three-and-out, Florida got the ball back, but Brantley threw his second interception of the night for a pick-six and put the Crimson Tide up 31-6 and pacing the rest of the game.
The Gators will return to The Swamp for a matchup against LSU on Oct. 9. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and will air nationally on ESPN.
