Florida Football: Anthony Richardson leads Gators in game it had to win

Maybe it’s not a great sign for the state of the Florida Gators when facing an opponent on a four game losing streak that was ravaged by the flu and still being considered the underdogs by Vegas. Despite the 3.5 point spread that was knocked down to 1.5 points when word of the flu inflicting multiple Texas A&M players got out, this felt like a game that Florida football had to win to save face this season.

As it played out, the defense was the same old story in the first before flipping a switch in the second half all while Anthony Richardson kept Florida football afloat and ultimately gave Billy Napier and crew a much needed SEC road win.

Florida Football: Texas A&M is weird y’all

Prior to the season when people did pre-season predictions, most articles pegged the Gators at 7-5. We were a bit more optimistic but we didn’t account for the defense being as bad as it has been.

The ironic part is that even the most optimistic predictions had Florida losing to Georgia and Texas A&M. Remember when the Aggies were ranked in the top 10 during preseason? Fun times.

Through the first half, Patrick Toney made the Aggies look like a top ten team again. It is one thing when a team like Tennessee shreds your defense. Tennessee shreds everyone. It’s another when the Aggies, who came into the game averaging 21 points a game total, put up 24 in the first half.

Florida football was able to hang around though thanks to Anthony Richardson looking like the free and loose AR that shredded Utah and Tennessee. With numerous NFL scouts in the building and Texas A&M fans doing Texas A&M things like waving a white towel (fitting in the end), Richardson put on a show.

The highlight was his 60-yard jaunt in the first quarter that Florida up 17-14.

Florida Football: Halftime wasn’t fun

Even with the offense tearing it up, Florida got the ball back with a minute left in the half trailing 24-20. What continues to befuddle Gator fans is Billy Napier, Mr. Scared Money Don’t Make Money, refusing to allow his offense to take a shot despite having all three timeouts. With Texas A&M getting the ball first to start the second half, this had the potential to go the way of the LSU game.

But then a Christmas miracle in November happened, the defense stiffen. Florida forced a three-and-out, scored a touchdown two plays later, then forced another three-and-out.

Defensive backs were playing up tight on their man. Princely Umanmielen came to life and forced a fumble. Then Antwaun Powell-Ryland forced another. And despite the Gators having multiple chances to formally put away Jimbo Fisher and crew early in the fourth quarter, the defense continued to hold until Montrell Johnson put them away for good.

Florida entered the underdog and left 17 point winners. With South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and our Neighbors To The West left, an 8-4 season is still in play.

Is it the long term standard for the Gators? No.

But again considering what the national media predicted, an 8-4 season with three of the loses coming to teams currently ranked in the top 10 would be a step in the right direction.

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