Florida Gators vs Toledo Rockets Recap

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The day started with Kirk Herbstreit picking Toledo to upset the Gators in Gainesville. He attend to Ohio State so it is understandable. Herbstreit later attempted to apologize to Gator fans after he realized the Gators had it in the bag.

Box Score:

Florida Gator 24 – Toledo Rockets 6

Jeff Driskel: 17/22, 153 yards, 1 TD

Mack Brown: 25 carries, 112 yards, 2 TDs

Trey Burton: 5 receptions, 69 yards

Terrance Owens: 17/38, 155 yards, 1 INT

David Fluellen: 9 rushes, 46 yards

Bernard Reedy: 7 receptions, 50 yards

1st Quarter

Toledo’s first play was a crisp pass to the outside for a first down, but after that they could not get another first down and were forced to punt. Powell was credited with the first sack of the season for the Gators. Florida’s first possession started at their own 16 yard line. They started with four straight running plays and continued to pound it down the field. Mack Brown capped off a great drive with a one yard touchdown. Everything you could have asked for in an opening drive. Both the Rockets and Gators then faltered and were stopped on consecutive drives. Florida ended the quarter driving down the field

Score: Florida 7 – Toledo 0

2nd Quarter

Starting the 2nd quarter, Valdez Showers got a pitch to the outside which he took for 28 yards. On third and (almost) goal, Jeff Driskel threw his first incomplete pass. Austin Hardin then nailed a 24 yard field goal. Toledo later decided to go for it on 4th and inches on their own 36. Led by Dominique Easley, the Gators stopped them on a snap that was intended for the fullback. The next play Jeff Driskel fumbled the ball after the pocket collapsed when Mack Brown blew his blocking assignment. Luckily, the turnover only resulted in a field goal for Toledo. On the next drive, Brown continued to grind and finished it off with a 14 yard touchdown run.

Score: Florida 17 – Toledo 3

3rd Quarter

After a touchback to start the 2nd half, Florida was forced to punt. Toledo drove and assisted by some Florida penalties, made it to the red zone. The Rockets were forced to settle for a 23 yard field goal though. The Gators again struggled but thanks to a luck bounce, pinned Toledo at their own seven yard line. After getting the ball back with good field position, the Gators continued to struggle offensively and were forced to punt. True freshman Vernon Hargreaves III then intercepted a pass to give the ball back to the offense. The Gators capitalized when Driskel connected with Gideon Ajagbe for a four yard touchdown.

Score: Florida 24 – Toledo 6

4th Quarter

Florida drove down the field but penalties were killer near the end zone; they were forced to kick a field goal, which was hooked by Austin Hardin. After another Toledo drive that resulted in a punt, Muschamp brought in the second string crew. Kelvin Taylor strung together a couple of nice runs; Mark Herndon also received some carries.

Score: Florida 24 – Toledo 6

Bottom Line

The Florida offense started off well but faltered and became very hesitant in the second half. Penalties became more and more frequent for the Gators; later in the year these flags will cost them a lot more, especially late in the game. Muschamp gave the majority of the work load to Mack Brown (24 rushes) until the end of the game when the victory was secured. The offense rarely looked down field and when they did, receivers could not make plays. The Gators’ defense was disruptive and overall very consistent, except later in the game when they made stupid mistakes that resulted in penalties. If the Gators can put together two replications of the first half today, they should have no problem against Miami.

Player of the game: Mack Brown

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