There was a ton happening during Florida’s win over Texas, and there are certainly a number of plays that we can highlight that won the Gators the game.
But we want to take a look at some of the “hidden plays” that had just as large a role as the highlight reel plays.
Hidden plays that won Florida the game
3rd & 3 at FLA 16, 7:17 - 1st
H.Smothers rush middle for a 4-yard loss to the FLA20 (E.Oyebadejo)
Florida was on its heels at this point, and it felt like Texas was going to march back down the field and go up 14-0. And if Texas had gotten a TD on its first two possessions, we aren’t convinced the Gators would have actually recovered.
But Emmanuel Oyebadejo burst into the backfield and got a huge stop on 3rd down to force a field goal that seemed to settle the defense down for Florida.
2nd & 6 at TEX 45, 0:53 - 1st
J.Baugh rush left for 5 yards gain to the TEXAS40 (C.Simmons)
PENALTY TEXAS Block Below Waist (G.Littleton) 15 yards from TEXAS40 to TEXAS25, 1ST DOWN
This wound up being a massive penalty that moved Florida into field goal range, and considering the Gators wound up losing a yard over the next three plays after this penalty, it directly resulted in three points for Florida.
4th & 12 at TEX 36, 0:51 - 2nd
T.Jones Jr. pass complete, short right to D.Wilson caught at TEXAS19, for 17 yards to the TEXAS19 (B.Mascoe), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
The touchdown before halftime was massive and seemed to give Florida life, but Tramell Jones's first-down throw on this drive was arguably his best of the day. And had this play gone south, Texas would have had the ball on the 36 with time to work with to kick a field goal. And instead of a 17-10 deficit, it could have been 20-3.
3rd & 6 at TEX 22, 8:32 - 3rd
T.Jones Jr. pass complete short middle to M.Mays Jr. caught at TEXAS15, for 7 yards to the TEXAS15 (K.Phillips), 1ST DOWN
There were a ton of plays we could have picked from the touchdown drive to open the 2nd half, but the third-down conversion to Micah Mays felt notable because it came at a point when Florida’s receiving corps was just devastated, and yet the spring game hero came through with a first down to keep the chains moving.
3rd & 1 at TEX 49, 9:07 - 4th
A.Manning sacked for loss of 1 yard to the TEXAS48 (L.Hayward, B.Hanks III)
The 4th down stop by Brendan Bett is the highlight, but what set up the 4th down was the pursuit by Lagonza Hayward as Arch Manning tried to scramble out of the pocket, allowing Ben Hanks to finish the job and prevent the first down.
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