Georgia Southern Runs Over Florida, 26-20

Nov 23, 2013; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp reacts during the second quarter against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Southern, an FCS school, came into The Swamp, and ran all over Florida. The Eagles rushed for 429 yards on the day and didn’t even complete a pass. The Gators could not stop the triple option and looked putrid on offense. Ultimately, it cost them the game. The loss ensures Florida a losing season, their first since 1979. It’s also the first time an FCS team has beaten the Gators and snaps Florida’s consecutive bowl streak at 23. Time has most likely run out on Will Muschamp in Gainesville.

Florida has won the opening coin toss and opted to receive for the first time all year. Running back Kelvin Taylor ran eight times for 54 yards on the opening drive, but the Gators couldn’t find the end zone. Kicker Frankie Velez kicked a 27 yard field goal to put Florida ahead 3-0.

Things continued to look promising when Georgia Southern had a bad snap on a punt and Florida recovered at the Eagles 34 yard line. But even with good field position, Florida couldn’t convert. Velez had a 34 yard field goal blocked. Safety Jabari Gorman forced a fumble on the next play, and linebacker Michael Taylor recovered the ball at the GSU 14. Quarterback Skyler Mornhingweg connected with wide receiver Soloman Patton for a 3 yard touchdown in the back of the end zone to put Florida up 10-0 early in the second quarter.

That’s when things started to go bad for the Gators. Florida really struggled to stop the triple option, but they had little success. On the next drive, Georgia Southern had a nine play, 68 yard drive stopped at the two yard line by a fumble. Freshman linebacker Jarrad Davis, who’s really come on in recent weeks, forced the fumble and LB Darrin Kitchens recovered it.

It only took one play on the Eagles next possession as freshman QB Kevin Ellison went 45 yards untouched into the end zone to cut the Gators’ lead to 10-7. That was the score when they went to the half, as Georgia Southern outgained Florida 167-117. Both teams totaled six total passing yards, all by Mornhinweg.

The second half started out much the way it ended with senior QB Jerick McKinnon running 66 yards to the Florida nine yard line. Ellison later capped the drive off with a one yard TD run on fourth and one to put the Eagles up 14-10. On the day, Ellison ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.

GSU ended the third quarter like they started it with a 45 yard TD drive, capped off by a William Banks three yard run. The Eagles missed the extra point and led the Gators 20-10 through three-quarters. Georgia Southern rushed for over 310 yards up to that point.

Frankie Velez cut the lead to a touchdown on a 22 yard FG with 12:02 left to play. Florida tied the game with 5:41 left on a 47 yard touchdown pass, Mornhinweg to Patton for the second time on the day. Velez made the PAT to tie the game at 20.

But no sooner than Florida tied it up, Georgia Southern came back with a 75 yard touchdown drive. McKinnon ran the ball in from 14 yards out to put the Eagles up 26-14. GSU K Younghoe Koo missed his second extra point on the day to breathe life into the Gators, but Florida just couldn’t pull it out. Mornhinweg’s final pass on fourth down with nine seconds left fell meagerly short of the goal line.

The loss was the worst loss in the history of the Florida program. This most likely means the end of the Will Muschamp and Brent Pease era in Gainesville. To make matters worse, the Gators leading tackler on the season, LB Michael Taylor,injured his MCL during the game and is out for the rest of the season. Freshman LB Alex Anzalone also left the game with a dislocated shoulder and DE Jonathan Bullard missed the game with swelling in his knee. Bullard is the 26th Gator to miss time due to an injury on the season.

Florida can somewhat salvage the season by ruining second-ranked Florida State’s next week in The Swamp. Game starts at noon.

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