Florida Gators 13 Mississippi State Bulldogs 6: Gators get signature road win in Starkville

Does anyone have any nails left?

Last week against Tennessee, the Florida Gators won fast and flashy in all three phases. After that victory, I mentioned that UF cannot depend on turnovers as their primary strategy to winning.

This week against Mississippi State, the Bulldogs didn’t cough it up once, and the Gators showed toughness and resolve in a down-to-the-wire defensive battle. Although, I’m still somewhat unsure what the identity of this team really is— the Gators keep finding ways to win.

“We came in here and found a way to win a different style of game. Last week we won with a big play. This week we won by grinding it out. That’s pretty cool.” Dan Mullen said when he spoke to the media after the game.

These Gators played vicious and ferocious in the second half against the Bulldogs— recording a shutout, allowing only five first downs (two because of penalties), and giving up just 43 total yards.

The offense, led by an improving Feleipe Franks, manufactured enough throughout the game against one of the nation’s most disruptive defensive lines.

Mullen’s game plan was absolutely perfect, and the man that roamed Florida’s sidelines on this night— clearly out-coached his opposition.

Mullen’s game plan was simple— play to your strengths and attack your opponent’s weaknesses. Florida had the advantage at receiver over the Mississippi State secondary yet had a serious disadvantage up front. The Bulldogs team strength is their defensive line, and so far, this season, it’s no secret that Florida’s offensive line has struggled at times. Instead of attempting to minimize that strength vs weakness battle, Mullen realizes at this point in the season what he has do in order to give this team their best chance to win. On this night against Mississippi State, it was smoke screens, run plays, and play-action smoke screens all night in an effort to get this pass-rushing front on their heels and running sideline-to-sideline. Well, that plan worked, and the Bulldogs were gassed in the second half.

Mississippi State had some success running the football in the first half, and at times were pushing the Gators around. Nick Fitzgerald and the Bulldogs gashed the Gators for 95 yards on the ground in the first half on their way to moving the football down the field on two nice drives. The Bulldogs only manufactured two field goals against the Gators heading into halftime.

It was much of the same offensively for Florida in the first half— with only one real drive of any significance that was finished by kicker Evan McPherson.

Mississippi State led 6-3 going into halftime in what looked to be a defensive slugfest. You just got the feeling that this game was going to be won on one play.

Which coach would go to the break and make the adjustments needed to win the grueling low-scoring affair? The answer— Dan Mullen.

Which offense would make the play and catch the defense napping? The answer— Florida.

Which defense would set the tone for the second half and dominate the line of scrimmage? The answer— Florida.

Mullen had been calling screen plays and short routes all evening. It’s only fitting that the game and the momentum would be swung Florida’s way mid-way through the third quarter when Franks threw another screen pass to quarterback turned receiver Kadarius Toney behind the line of scrimmage. Toney would find streaking tight end Moral Stephens behind the defense in the end zone. There’s no question that the electric Toney needs to get the football more, but man did he maximize his chances against the Bulldogs.

Florida’s offense did enough to secure the tough road victory, but it cannot be stressed how dominant this defense was throughout the second half, and more specifically the defensive line led by Jachai Polite, who played like a man possessed. On the back end, timely pass break ups by do-it-all leader Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and safety Shawn Davis were the difference. And then there was the furious fourth down gutsy blitz called by defensive coordinator Todd Grantham that sent safety Donovan Stiner right up the middle untouched— putting the finishing touches on this night.

Grantham’s brilliance cannot be overstated, with his second half scheme to attack Fitzgerald from all over the field, with multiple blitz packages and his abusive defensive line— forcing Fitzgerald to stay in the pocket the entire second half. This strategy and UF’s consistent play-making took its toll on the Bulldogs and Fitzgerald looked uncomfortable as a result. The Gators assaulted Fitzgerald all night— finishing with six sacks and holding the Bulldog signal caller to under 100 yards through the air.

Back-to-back road wins for the Florida Gators have put them in a position to be a real contender in the east. Now, all of this is moot if the Gators can’t take care of business next week when they return home against LSU.

Florida leaves Starkville and heads back to the Swamp next week with a top-5 team coming to town. The Gators boast an exuberant amount of confidence after winning two road games by completely different methods. This team has shown grit and will in adverse situations. But against LSU— Florida will need to exhibit that same level of physicality and dominance and avoid making any costly mistakes.