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Florida Football: Five plays that doomed the 2023 season for the Gators

By Benjamin Henderson

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 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] /
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Florida football
Nov 18, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) catches a pass as Florida Gators safety Miguel Mitchell (10) defends during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Florida Football Doomed Plays

  • One play away…Again

This one hurt more than the missed field goal. The game against Arkansas was just a frustrating afternoon that felt like maybe the Gators were going to escape with a win and fell just short.

Florida’s effort against Missouri felt like a galvanizing moment that was going to springboard the Gators in 2024.

By the end of the game, Florida was missing both their inside linebackers, both of their offensive tackles, and Graham Mertz left the game and was out after running through a brick wall.

And yet, despite it all, all Florida had to do was stop Missouri on 4th and 17 to win the game.

This moment was set up in part by Trevor Etienne running out of bounds, allowing Missouri to save a timeout. That timeout was used to set up their 4th and 17 play.

But it also allowed the Gators to set up, and Florida opted for zone coverage that asked backup linebacker Mannie Nunnery to drop back 20 yards to be the area where Luther Burden casually jogged.

Nunnery didn’t get there, and Burden made one of the easiest 20-yard receptions with the game on the line one could ever dream of.

Missouri would go on to kick a game-winning field goal.

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