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Gators Fall To Seminoles on Senior Night, 21-7
On
senior night at the Swamp, the University of Florida had little to
celebrate. Florida State took advantage of short fields and costly
turnovers to defeat Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the first
time since 2003, taking a 21-7 decision.
The Seminoles (8-5, 5-3
ACC) capitalized four Florida (6-6, 3-5 SEC) interceptions and won
despite amassing just 95 yards of total offense. Florida State got all
21 points off of turnovers, returning an interception for a touchdown
and driving just 20 and 4-yards for their two other scores.
Florida
State grabbed a 14-0 halftime lead, intercepting John Brantley three
times in the opening half. Florida had 140 yards of offense, but after
Brantley was injured late in the first half, the Gators were able to
muster very little in the second half, totaling just 44 yards of
offense over the final 30 minutes.
On the Gators second drive,
disaster struck for the Gators when Brantley was picked off deep in
Gator territory by Greg Reid who returned it to the 20 on his first of
two picks in the first half. On third-and-goal at the Florida 2-yard
line, the Gators stopped Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel shy of
the goal line, but a personal foul was called on Ronald Powell
resulting in a first-and-goal inside the 1-yard line. A play later
Devonta Freeman gave the Seminoles a 7-0 lead with a 1-yard touchdown
run with 6:34 left in the first quarter.
The Gators finally
put together a strong drive near the end of the first quarter after
Brantley hit A.C. Leonard on a 24-yard pass to the Florida State
33-yard line. Moments later, however, Brantley floated a pass into
coverage and Mike Harris returned it 89 yards to the Florida 4-yard
line. Freeman added his second 1-yard touchdown run two plays later and
Florida State grabbed a 14-0 lead with 14:24 left in the first half.
Florida
rebounded with its best drive of the game, marching deep into Florida
State territory, but ultimately coming up short again. Florida rolled
the dice, setting up for a long Caleb Sturgis field goal with a
fourth-and-2 at the Florida State 27, but using a Trey Burton fake to
scoop up the first down and extend the drive. Facing a fourth-and-1 at
the Florida State 15-yard line, the Gators once again gambled but
disaster struck this time, as Burton was dropped for a 14-yard loss.
Florida
State nearly added to its lead in the third quarter, but Dustin Hopkins
pushed a 50-yard field goal attempt wide left. The Seminoles had
started the drive at the Gators’ 39 yard line after a 39-yard punt
return by Reid.
Early in the fourth quarter Brissett tried to
avoid a sack and forced a throw that Terrance Parks picked off and
returned 29 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 12:20 remaining.
Florida
avoided its first shutout since 1988 when Brissett found Quinton Dunbar
in the back of the end zone with 4:16 remaining to cut the lead to
21-7. The Gator touchdown was set up when Jaye Howard recovered a
fumble at the Florida State 21-yard line.
Brantley finished
9-of-15 passing for 104 yards, but three costly interceptions. Brissett
finished 4-of-13 passing for 27 yards with a touchdown and an
interception. The Gators finished with 184 yards of total offense, 130
passing and just 54 rushing. In his final game in the Swamp, Chris
Rainey had a team-high 15 carries for just 42 yards. A.C. Leonard led
Florida in receiving with three receptions for 65 yards while Dunbar
also had three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.
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