Florida Football: Five plays that doomed the 2023 season for the Gators
![Florida Gators quarterback Max Brown (17) gets stopped by Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Jared Verse (5) and Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Braden Fiske (55) during first half action as Florida takes on Florida State at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F6feaabc4ebf8e76103656d0a1857ac16a593dd0d299dc956055b6ffdac0705ed.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback Max Brown (17) gets stopped by Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Jared Verse (5) and Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Braden Fiske (55) during first half action as Florida takes on Florida State at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Florida Football Doomed Plays
- Leaping against Kentucky
Dijon Johnson is a promising defensive back who was used primarily on special teams this season. We hope in time that we will see him rotated in with Florida’s secondary.
Unfortunately for Johnson, he took a backbreaking penalty against Kentucky that was the icing on an abysmal first quarter for the Gators in Lexington.
Already trailing 10-0 and looking overmatched, Florida’s defense forced a three-and-out near the end of the quarter. The Gators were going to get the ball around midfield, could regroup with the change of quarter, and maybe find something to spark them.
The problem is that Johnson was called for leaping over the center on the ensuing punt.
The Wildcats were granted a first down after the personal foul, and on the very next play, Ray Davis was off to the races for a 75-yard touchdown to make it 16-0.