Florida Football: Gators win over Utah shows scared money doesn’t make money

Florida football went 6-7 last season. UCF fans had a top-five win after the Gasparilla Bowl. Gator fans were panicking when new head coach Billy Napier had not signed anyone of relevance in recruiting  in June.

After beating the 7th ranked Utah Utes 29-26 in The Swamp, rumors of the Gators demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Florida football: Anthony Richardson is that guy

We spent all offseason convincing ourselves that if Anthony Richardson stayed healthy, Florida could do some amazing things.

Turns out we were right.

Richardson finished 17-24 passing for 169 yards. More importantly he ran the ball 11 times for 104 yards and three touchdowns.

Simply put, Utah had no answer for Richardson in the open field and he filled almost every checkbox Gator fans could have hoped for.

He had help from Montrell Johnson rushing for 77 yards, Trevor Etienne going for 64 and Nay’Quan Wright rushing for 38 yards.

Napier kept most of Florida’s offense on the ground because Utah never demonstrated an ability to stop it. The Gators attempted a couple of deep passes, but most of Richardson’s throws were relatively safe. Newcomer Ricky Pearsall led the way for the receivers with four catches for 67 yards.

But it was Richardson’s second rushing touchdown that announced himself to the handful of college football fans who hadn’t heard of him.

45 yards away from the endzone, Richardson scrambled effortlessly to remind Gator fans Dan Mullen really thought Emory Jones was the answer.

Florida Football: Billy Napier 4D chess clock management

Florida went into halftime with a 14-13 lead. Things look great for the Gators as Utah running back Tavion Thomas had been held in check and all the Utes had on offense was TE Brant Kuithe off of window dressing play designs.

Unfortunately Florida’s front seven fell apart in the second half.

A goal line stand in the third quarter that stopped Thomas as he dove into the endzone gave Florida life, but it was a momentary reprieve.

Utah marched right down the field with its next two possessions for a touchdown, taking the lead with seven minutes left in the game after a Thomas touchdown.

Florida began its march down the field and with 2:40 left Florida was faced with a 4th and 2 on the 26.

Billy Napier opted to let the clock wind all the way down before calling timeout. It was a bit head-scratching because if Florida didn’t make it it would have been used to have all three timeouts. 

Napier was going all-in, and he was rewarded with Richardson gaining nine yards.

Four plays later, Richardson punched it in and Florida led 29-26.

Utah kept marching themselves though, and with 29 seconds left the Utes were on the Florida six-yard line.

Cam Rising dropped back, he looked into the endzone, he threw, and well………

Check back for a deeper film breakdown with Hail Florida Hail