Florida football: Defense carries as Gators top Miami, 24-20

Well, it was a wild season opener as No. 8 Florida football survived Miami for a 24-20 win in the season-opener in Orlando Saturday.

Five lead changes, 23 penalties, 10 sacks by the Florida football defense and a huge defensive stand in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.

It turned out the defense proved to be what the No. 8 Florida Gators relied on as its offense sputtered and stumbled against the Hurricanes’ defense.

The inexperience of the Florida football offensive line might have been overshadowed by key mistakes made by Feleipe Franks under center — including a late interception that nearly cost the Gators the game.

On their first possession of the game, Florida opened with an incomplete pass, which was followed by short gains by Lamical Perine and Feleipe Franks.

Just as it appeared the Gators were going to punt, Dan Mullen was brave and called for Tommy Townsend to run a fake punt:

And, the Gators took full advantage on the very next play when Franks hit Kadarius Toney for a 66-yard touchdown that was aided in part by Toney’s moves, and in part by Miami’s poor tackling.

The run capped a 5-play, 79-yard drive for Florida football.

However, for the next quarter-and-a-half, it would be a different story for the Gators.

After the Florida defense shut down Williams and the Hurricanes’ offense, the Gators coughed up the ball on the subsequent drive, at the Miami 9. Franks and Perine had a miscommunication on a handoff exchange and the Hurricane defense recovered.

Initially, the turnover didn’t hurt as Miami was forced to punt, but the Gators had slippery fingers two plays after the punt when Malik Davis was stripped and Miami recovered their second fumble of the game.

Florida Gators Football

This time, the Florida defense was able to step up and hold Miami to just a 42-yard field goal, maintaining a 7-6 lead.

But, on their next drive, Williams and the Hurricanes made Florida pay for its lack of offensive prowess.

Williams led Miami on a 12-play, 90-yard drive capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Brevin Jordan, giving Miami their first lead of the game, and one that would last into the second half.

Miami was able to rattle off 10 unanswered in the second quarter and pick up 99 more yards on offense than the Gators in the quarter.

To start the second half, neither team had a lot of zip on their first possessions.

It was Florida football who drew in the half when Evan McPherson drilled a 27-yard field goal with 6 minutes, 30 seconds left in the quarter.

After trading unsuccessful drives, Florida was forced to punt. Townsend drilled a 46-yard bomb, but Miami receiver Jeff Thomas muffed the return and Van Jefferson recovered at the Miami 11.

Three plays later, Franks hit Perine for an 8-yard touchdown pass and the third lead change of the game with Florida leading 17-13.

The fourth lead change happened on Miami’s first drive in the fourth quarter. After an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Gators, Dallas exploited weak tackling by the Florida football secondary to scamper 50 yards for a touchdown, giving Miami a 20-17 lead with a little more than 14 minutes left in the game.

Florida had an opportunity to respond, but Franks fired an interception to Amari Carter.

The Gators seemed to hold Miami to a possible field goal, but Manny Diaz elected to fake. Kicker Bubba Baxa picked up enough yardage for a first down, but a holding penalty would have brought it back. However, Baxa was tackled late, giving Miami a first-and-goal situation at the Florida 10.

Florida was lucky after C.J. Henderson forced Thomas to drop a pass in the end zone from Williams. Baxa’s short field goal attempt went wide to the right, giving Miami nothing on the drive.

On the next play from scrimmage, Franks pointed a laser to Josh Hammond for 65 yards, followed by a short run by Perine and a 10-yard pass to tight end Kyle Pitts. Franks called his own number on the next play for a 3-yard touchdown run and the fifth lead change of the game with Florida leading 24-20 with 8:18 to play.

After holding Miami with a little more than four minutes left, the Gators had an opportunity to run down the clock, but Franks elected to throw on first down and right into the hands of Romeo Finley.

But, consecutive 15-yard penalties pushed the Hurricanes back into their own territory.

Just as it seemed, however, the Gator defensive unit would hold, the secondary was flagged, not once, but twice for pass interference — once on fourth-and-forever.

After an incomplete pass, Miami had fourth down, but Jeremiah Moon pressured to force Williams to throw the ball away, effectively ending the game.

Florida has the next week off before hosting Tennessee-Chatanooga on Sept. 7 in Gainesville.

What are your thoughts of the game? Let us know in the comments below!