Florida Gators 27, LSU Tigers 19: Gators tame Tigers

If you thought the win in Starkville was impressive, this was definitely the next step for the Florida Gators. Florida traded blows with LSU for four quarters, withstanding each strike from the Tigers with comebacks of their own.

No, this is not the old Gators— not yet. But, this team could have folded time and time again on Saturday, and they just kept fighting. The momentum shifted each way at different times of the day, and Dan Mullen and his team kept their composure and found a way win.

I haven’t seen anything close to this performance since 2009. On a typical hot and muggy afternoon in Gainesville, the Swamp returned and roared their Gators to victory. The product on the field fed off of that atmosphere— showing resilience and mental toughness to finish no matter the circumstances. This win against LSU was a complete team effort in a raucous Swamp. And these Gators continue to grow and draw closer together each week.

LSU struck first— punching the Gators in the mouth on the opening drive, and honestly making it look easy driving down the field. It wasn’t until the next drive that Florida’s defense woke up, and just when LSU was deep into UF territory. That’s when Jachai Polite came furiously off the edge stripping Joe Burrow for the first of three turnovers committed by the LSU QB on the day and shifting the momentum back UF’s way.

LSU was the more physical in the first quarter, but late in that period and early into the second— the tables turned. After the opening drive, the Gator defense settled in and asserted their dominance from that point forward. While Feleipe Franks and the UF offense, finally started to establish the line of scrimmage at the end of the first frame.

After winning the field position battle in the first half, the Gators started in LSU territory. And that’s when Dan Mullen rode the churning legs of Lamical Perine on that drive, and on 9 plays, 7 of which were runs by Perine— the Gators knotted it up at 7 a piece.

A few drives later, LSU would move the football with some success— going 63-yards on 10 plays, but Florida’s defense would hold and force the field goal. But the Gators responded with a nice drive of their own immediately after, yet again behind Perine and timely throws from Franks to move the sticks. Franks would hit tight end Moral Stephens in the end zone from 3-yards out to give UF the 14-10 lead at halftime.

You just got the feeling heading into the break that Florida had seized control of this game, but with that team on the other sideline, things can quickly turn.

The second half got underway with another nice UF charge down the field, led by a beautiful pass and catch from Franks to Josh Hammond down the field in man coverage. But on the next play, one of the few that Mullen would like to have back— Franks is pressured and on a miscommunication in the end zone by LSU safety Grant Delpit. That play completely swung the momentum back LSU’s way and sucked the life out of UF’s offense for the remainder of the third quarter in the process.

Each defense squarely commanded the offenses from there, with LSU getting this game back into the way they like it. In a close game late, that certainly favors the Tigers as they seemingly always find a way to win.

LSU would kick a field goal late into the third quarter and make this a one-point game heading into the fourth. And you just knew it was coming, and then it happened— some big plays from the Tiger offense to recapture the lead. LSU running back Nick Brossette would break off runs of 31 and 47 yards to give the Tigers a 19-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. Fortunately, UF’s defense stopped the Tigers on the two-point conversion attempt.

When the Gators got the football back down by 5, Franks stepped up and led his team back, and the Gators answered with a 9-play, 75-yard drive behind outstanding play calls from Mullen and Franks leading the charge. First, it was a beautiful pass and even more ridiculous catch by Van Jefferson in double coverage for 26-yards. Then, on a play that was called to be a quick screen, Franks would recognize LSU’s coverage overloading one side. Franks would audible to a quick option pitch to the other side of the field to Perine, and the monster barreled his way over Tiger defenders for a 17-yard gain. Then Mullen went into his bag of tricks yet again. Tight end and former pitcher Lucas Krull came into motion to the left and got the football on a reverse. Franks would slip behind the defense and Krull stopped and passed it back to Franks, hitting him in stride to set up 1st and Goal. From there, Perine would finish with his second TD of the day and give the Gators the one-point lead. Florida would fail on the two-point conversion and UF held a 20-19 advantage mid-way through the final quarter.

That’s all the UF defense needed and they took it from there. Swamp noise, pass rush, smothering coverage, and even better playmaking would cement this victory down the stretch. After committing his first turnover earlier in the game, Burrow would then giveaway his first and second interceptions of the season on LSU’s final two possessions. The first— Burrow was pressured by the bothersome UF pass rush and tried to find his receiver in the flats. But Brad Stewart Jr., the only Louisiana native on this roster, would jump the route and make the pick and take it the other way down the sideline for 6. Now the Gators had a cushion, but it was still a one-possession game.

On the final drive, LSU got the football back with a minute and change still to play. Florida’s nasty defensive line, as they did time and time again, could not be stopped off of the edge and again wreaked havoc on Burrow on every single play. Burrow would convert a 4th and 19 to wide receiver Derrick Dillon on a strike. But then, after three straight incompletions, then Burrow heaved his second pick of the season. Donovan Stiner snagged Burrow’s pass to sign, seal, and deliver this victory in the Swamp.

Just as a I predicted— LSU’s offense wasn’t anything spectacular, but highly efficient. And one thing you know for sure is that they’re gonna keep coming for four quarters. Florida’s defense was just simply better. After a tough start, the Gators rose to the occasion and growled their way to another tough win.

UF totaled 5 sacks on Burrow for the day, while conversely not allowing any sacks. Quietly, this offensive line who’s took so much heat over the weeks— came to play. The O-line kept Franks’ jersey clean while also pushing the Tigers around on the ground. Florida rushed for over 200 yards and averaged 5-yards a carry between Perine, Jordan Scarlet, and Kadarius Toney. This is where the Swamp gets its notoriety, because on Saturday afternoon, this was without a doubt the most difficult environment to enter.

Now to put this all into perspective, this game went about as I expected. But it overjoys me to write this after what I just witnessed. A hard-fought victory against a top-5 team in the Swamp. On a day when the ‘08 championship team was honored, and Tim Tebow was inducted into the Ring of Honor— these new Gators fed off of that energy and finished LSU, and then delightfully celebrated with Tebow and that championship team along with the Gator Nation. These Gators understand the importance of the Gator standard.

These Gators aren’t back to being “mighty” just yet, there are still some kinks that need to be unraveled before I’m ready to make that proclamation. But a date with Georgia is still ahead in three weeks, and I do know this— the Florida Gators are oozing with confidence and getting better each week. That showdown in Jacksonville has taken a completely new turn from what was thought to be a steamroll just a few weeks back.