Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers: Gators Trail by 3 After Sloppy First Half
By Terry Lane
For the first time since 1955, the Gators are scoreless in the first half versus Tennessee. But it’s not all bad news for the Gators, as the defense played well and allowed only allowed a field goal as Tennessee leads Florida, 3-0. For the Gators, the first half was an exhibition in called QB runs for Jeff Driskel, dropped passes for both teams and stout defense from the Gators, who kept the Vols offense off track for most of the game.
Here are some of the first half highlights:
Evenly Matched
Offense was evenly spread in the first half, with the Gators totalling 122 yards to 142 yards for the Vols. While the Gators got 74 yards on the ground, the Vols took to the air for 125 yards. Both offense shined at times and struggled at others. Driskel overthrew a couple passes, but also had a few dropped. However, the Gators were able to lean on the run game to pick up the offense.
Run, Jeff, Run
Driskel’s running somewhat opened up the running game, but also exposed him to some vicious hits from the Vols. A second quarter hit on Driskel by Tennessee DB LaDarrell McNeil drew a personal foul and targeting penalty, which was reversed to no penalty at all after a replay review.
On the play, McNeil shoulder appears to hit either Driskel’s shoulder or helmet. While this blogger wanted the first down for the Gators, McNeil made the play on an in bounds QB trying to scramble for the line, and it’s getting awful difficult for football fans to tell the difference between hits and penalties.
With Driskel’s exposure to the Tennessee defense thus far, backup freshman QB Treon Harris will want to keep his arm limber and helmet nearby.
Gator D Standing Strong
After the punt following the reversed penalty , Tennessee got its offense going, with Worley hitting WR Pig Howard for a 25-yard pass play on the drive. But the Gators defense again stepped up, sticking a third down tackle near the Florida 40 and forcing the Vols into a punt.
The Gators D stepped up again late in the second quarter after another big catch for a first down from Vols receiver Howard. Florida dropped Tennessee RB Jalen Hurd for a loss to set up a third-and-13, where the Gator rush overwhelmed Worley, forcing him into an intentional grounding penalty and a punt.
#Christy4Heisman
Part of the Gators defensive effort in the first quarter can be attributed to the punter Kyle Christy, who twice pinned the Vols inside their 10, helping bottle up the Vols offense and leading to good field position for the Gators. Christy was praised by SEC Network announcers Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer as the best punter in the nation and a likely Ray Guy Award finalist for the nation’s best college punter.
In another special teams highlight, Gator punt return Andre Debose showed his speed and moves with a 45-yard punt return, but it’s likely due to the blocking penalty that freed him and, subsequently, brought the run back.
Bad Play All Around
The Vols did a lot to help the Gators along, including a couple of dropped passes and a third-down false start that kept the Vols from converting. Receiver John Malone dropped a sure catch on third down that could have gone for a touchdown, but instead forced Tennessee to take the field goal.
Demarcus Robinson is having a slow start, including two dropped passes and a mistimed jump on a back shoulder throw that left the Tennessee defender clear to make an interception. That play could have been a catch, or at least an incompletion. Robinson finally got a big catch for a first down with less than 2 minutes left, but another bad Driskel pass and a poorly designed swing pass play to Jones that kept the Gators outside of field goal range.