FINAL: No 2 Georgia 34, Florida 20

THE QUICK SLANT
No. 2 GEORGIA 34, FLORIDA 20

What Happened

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For Florida, there was so much to be encouraged about… until DJ Lagway went down.

First, the Gators lost their freshman quarterback. Next, they lost their lead. In time, they lost their poise and ultimately the game Saturday, falling 34-20 to second-ranked Georgia in their annual Southeastern Conference showdown at EverBank Stadium, giving the Bulldogs a fourth consecutive win in the storied rivalry.

UGA quarterback Carson Beck shook off a trio of interceptions in passing for 309 yards and two second-half scores in guiding his team to a huge come-from-behind victory. It all turned for the Bulldogs after Lagway, the centerpiece of the Gators’ offense just a year removed from being named Gatorade Player of the Year, was carded from the field in the second-quarter with a severe hamstring injury. Lagway’s injury came two games after the team lost sixth-year starting QB Graham Mertz for to a season-ending knee injury, and left UF quarterback duties to third-teamer Aidan Warner, a walk-on from Yale.

Warner went seven of 22 for 66 yards and an interception, along the way — needless to say — getting a crash course in the difference between the Ivy League and SEC.

When the final numbers were in, Georgia had totaled 455 yards of offense to UF’s 228. Beck completed 25 of his 40 attempts, while tailback Nate Frazier He rushed 19 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. Lagway hit just two of his six attempts, but fired a 43-yard touchdown strike to Aidan Mizell early in the second quarter to stake the Gators to a 7-3 lead after Beck’s first pick. A 53-yard field goal by Trey Smack had UF ahead 10-3, which was where things stood when Lagway suffered his injury on a designed first-down run with five minutes left in the half.

Over the next eight series with Warner under center, the Gators ran 25 plays for just 53 yards, yet still led 13-6 after two three-and-out possessions to start the third quarter.

Georgia then mounted consecutive touchdown drives. The first was an eight-play, 83-yard march with Dillon Bell’s 33-yard dash off an end-around the big hitter. It set up Frazier’s 2-yard scoring run to tie the game at 13 with seven minutes to go in the third period.

On Florida’s, ensuing series, the Gators actually moved the ball, driving to the UGA 33 and in position for a 50-yard field goal try by Smack for the lead. But the snap from Rocco Underwood It was low, hot and through the hands of holder Jeremy Crawshaw. The ball skipped past midfield and was recovered by Georgia at the UF 36 for a crushing loss of 33 yards. Three plays later, Beck hit Cash Jones on a crossing route. Jones broke through the arms of Shemar James then ran over two Gator defenders at the goal line for a 20-13 lead with 1:30 to go in the third.

To Warner to Elijah Badger Completion of 26 yards, plus a personal foul on the UGA defense helped move the Gators into scoring position. Tailback Ja’Kobi Jackson’s 15-yard touchdown run tied the game at 20 and lit up the UF sideline midway through the fourth period.

Back came Beck, however. Completions of 34 yards to Arian Smith and 21 to Lawson Luckie got the Bulldogs inside the UF 20, where Beck finished with 10-yard scoring toss to Dominic Lovett on a wideout screen. That gave Georgia a 27-20 advantage with four minutes to go.

On UF’s next snap, Warner rolled to his right and tried to force a pass downfield that landed in the chest of Georgia linebacker CJ Allenwho returned the interception to the Florida 14-yard line. Two plays later, Dwight Phillips Jr. iced the game with a 4-yard scoring run with 3:03 remaining.

What it Means

For the Gators, their four-game losing streak in the series is the longest since dropping six straight from 1978-83. Go ahead and cue the noise in the system (again), but the fact the Gators have lost their second starting quarterback within a month is a handicap that cannot be dismissed. Neither can the inspired way the team perservered, especially on the defensive side of the football. Don’t quit in this team.

In the Spotlight

Who had the phrase, “Florida starting quarterback Aidan Warner“on their bingo cards?

Staggering Statistic

The Gators came to Jacksonville knowing they’d be without cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.tailback Montrell Johnson Jr. and wideout Eugene Wilson IIIthree of the best players on the team. By halftime, they’d lost lagway and standout corner Devin Moore (after I intercepted a pass). Then safety Jordan Castell and cornerback Dijon Johnson went down in the third quarter. Throw all those names into an injury pile that already included defensive tackle Jamari Lyonswideouts Kahleil Jackson and Andy Jeanplus tailback Treyaun Webb and, of course, Mertz. That’s a bunch of manpower on the shelf.

Up Next

The Gators (4-4, 2-3) have next to no time to lick their wounds (much less feel sorry for themselves) before kicking off preparation for a road trip to No. 5 Texas (7-1, 3-1) in what will be the first meeting between the two programs since 1940. The Longhorns, who were idle Saturday, were beaten soundly at home by the Bulldogs, 30-15, last month, but bounced back last weekend with a 27-24 victory at No. 24 Vanderbilt.

Email Chris Harry at [email protected]