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Florida soccer upset No. 8 Utah 29-26 earlier than a raucous, sold-out environment of 90,777 at The Swamp on Saturday evening in head coach Billy Napier’s debut.
Napier turned the primary Florida coach in program historical past to beat a ranked group in his teaching debut. Florida additionally prolonged its nation-best win streak in dwelling openers to 33 straight video games.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson rushed for 3 touchdowns, together with a go-ahead, 2-yard TD run with 1:25 left to place the Gators up 29-26. Then, linebacker Amari Burney sealed the win with Florida’s solely turnover of the sport, a choose ultimately zone within the closing seconds to carry off a late drive by Utah quarterback Cameron Rising.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the sport:
Quarterback Anthony Richardson is the actual deal
There have been questions on how Richardson would deal with his second profession begin, and first in The Swamp, in opposition to a high-level opponent like Utah. Richardson stayed inside himself whereas making performs, exhibiting each the velocity, arm power and athleticism which have NFL scouts drooling about his professional potential. Richardson scored on two first-half landing runs, together with a 45-yard scramble late within the second quarter that gave the Gators a 14-13 lead and despatched the followers right into a frenzy.
He eluded a Utah defender on a nifty transfer to throw a two-point conversion to place the Gators up 22-19 early within the fourth quarter, then transformed a fourth-and-2 with a 7-yard scramble on the sport’s closing drive. Richardson scored two of his three dashing TDs on read-option performs, together with the game-winning rating. Richardson wound up with 168 yards passing and a team-high 106 yards dashing on 9.6 yards per carry.
Redemption for Montrell Johnson
Sophomore Montrell Johnson Jr. misplaced a fumble on Florida’s opening drive, however Napier caught with the Louisiana switch, who put the Gators up 20-19 within the fourth quarter on a 14-yard landing run. Johnson wound up with 12 carries for 75 yards, finest amongst operating backs.
Turnover margin even between Gators, Utes
Florida and Utah performed to a fair 1-1 turnover margin. Johnson’s fumble and subsequent 45-yard return by Utah security R.J. Hubert arrange Utah’s opening rating. However after Ventrell Miller dropped a possible game-clinching interception late, Burney got here up with the interception that clinched the win.
Gators’ run protection inconsistent
After holding Utah to 59 yards dashing within the first half, Florida’s run protection wilted within the third quarter. Utah went to a bunch of double-tight finish units to hurry for 97 yards within the third quarter, together with a 7-yard TD run by Micah Bernard. It did not get a lot better within the fourth quarter as a 4-yard TD run by Tavion Thomas put the Utes forward 26-22.
Brenton Cox and Princely Umanmiellen did come up massive with a mixed deal with on a goal-line stand early within the third quarter, however Florida nonetheless must work on sustaining tackling for 40 minutes. Utah completed the sport with 230 yards dashing on 39 carries, with 181 of these yards coming within the second half.
Penalties nonetheless a little bit of an issue
Florida did not play its cleanest recreation in Napier’s debut. Napier had made slicing down on penalties an emphasis in fall camp, bringing in SEC officers for scrimmages. However UF tight finish Dante Zanders had a maintain on the opening return of the sport, which set the Gators again to their very own 8-yard line. One other holding penalty on a kickoff return within the second quarter resulted in poor subject place, as UF was pressured to begin the drive at its personal 10. Florida was flagged seven instances for 38 yards.
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