GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida rallied in the second half for the
fourth time this season, edging SEC newcomer Missouri, 14-7 at the Swamp
Saturday.
Mike Gillislee took a short pass from
Jeff Driskel and went 45 yards for a touchdown with
13:32 remaining for the winning score. But it wasn’t until Josh Evans picked
off James Franklin in the end zone with :05 left and
Missouri at the Gators’ 21-yard line that Florida could finally breathe a sigh
of relief.
The Gators picked off Franklin four times on the day as the
defense gave Florida a chance to win. The victory improved Florida to 8-1 on the
year while the Gators finished SEC play with a 7-1 mark. While their fate is
still up for grabs as far as a spot in the SEC Championship and they do not
control their destiny, the historic books will acknowledge the Gators as SEC
East co-champions at minimum after Saturday’s win.
Florida (8-1, 7-1 SEC) rallied for 14 second half points,
getting a 36-yard touchdown run from Omarius Hines in
the third quarter in addition to Gillislee’s
game-winning touchdown.
The Gators trailed Missouri (4-5, 1-5 SEC), 7-0, at the half after
the Tigers capitalized on a Gillislee fumble in UF
territory, getting a 1-yard touchdown run by Kendial
Lawrence with 6:10 left in the first half.
The Gators appeared to make the first impact play of the game
early in the second quarter when Jaylen Watkins
intercepted Franklin and returned it to the Missouri 19-yard line. The Gators
marched backwards 10 yards, however, via a 5-yard loss by Gillislee
and a false start and had to settle for a 47-yard field goal attempt for Caleb
Sturgis, who entered the game with a sore ankle. His attempt with 11:07 left in
the first half was blocked and the game remained scoreless.
Midway through the second quarter the game swung when Gillislee fumbled at the Florida 27-yard line and E.J.
Gaines of Missouri pounced on the ball. Franklin hit T.J. Moe with a 12-yard
gain and L’Damian Washington with a 9-yard pass to
the Florida 6-yard line. Lawrence then carried it in from a yard out to give
the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 6:10 remaining in the first half.
Early in the second half the Gators pinned Missouri at its
3-yard line after a Kyle Christy punt. After forcing a three-and-out, Pop
Saunders returned Missouri’s punt to the Tigers’ 40-yard line setting up the
Gators in prime position.
Two plays later the Gators lined up in the Wildcat with Trey
Burton under center and Hines went around the right side and raced down the
sideline for a 36-yard touchdown to tie the game with 9:03 left in the third
quarter.
Missouri marched 12 plays and 68 yards all the way down the
Gators’ 7-yard line on the ensuing drive but Louscheiz
Purifoy blocked Andrew Baggett’s 25-yard field goal
attempt and the game remained tied.
The Tigers once again appeared poised to grab the lead, marching
into Gator territory again. But Franklin overthrew a wide open receiver over
the middle and Matt Elam intercepted Franklin at the 4-yard line and returned
it 42 yards to the UF 46-yard line.
This time it was a game-changing turn of events.
The Gators appeared to take the lead on a 43-yard pass from Driskel to Frankie Hammond but a holding penalty negated the
score. Two plays later, however, Driskel dumped off a
short pass to Gillislee who weaved his way through
the Missouri defense and into the end zone from 45 yards out to give Florida
its first lead, 14-7, with 13:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Missouri mounted one last attempt. After the Tigers blocked a
25-yard field goal attempt by Brad Phillips, who replaced the ailing Sturgis,
Missouri marched from its own 20 all the way down to the Gators’ 21-yard line.
Facing a fourth-and-6 from the UF 21 with :11
remaining, Franklin threw his fourth and final pick into the end zone as Evans
claimed the ball and secured the win for the Gators.
Franklin finished 24-of-51 passing for 236 yards but also the four
costly interceptions. Missouri outgained Florida 335-276.
