Florida finishes the regular season with a 6-6 record as they dropped their final game 45-38 to FSU. This game was back and forth for the majority of the night, but the Noles got the last laugh.
Gator Country gives you six early takeaways from this week 13 matchup.
POOR CONTAINMENT
Florida struggled to bring down Jordan Travis all night long. Several times throughout the game the Gators got pressure and even hands on Travis but couldn’t bring him down. This led to multiple touchdown drives/runs. Travis finished with 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. You can say what you want about Florida’s offense, but you can’t give up 45 points and expect to win many football games.
COLD 2ND HALF
I wasn’t expecting the defense to play lights out in the 2nd half, but I did expect Florida to move the ball consistently. Billy Napier and the Gators didn’t get anything going offensively in the first three possessions of the 2nd half. This allowed FSU to jump out to a 14-point lead entering the 4th quarter. Napier went away from running the football and Richardson struggled to connect with his young and inexperienced receiving core. Richardson connected on just 9 of his 27 passes and didn’t record a 2nd half pass completion until four minutes left in the 4th quarter. Florida had the momentum after halftime and lost it all very quickly after being outscored 17-0 in the third quarter.
MONTRELL JOHNSON AND TREVOR ETIENNE
What a season these two have had. Johnson and Etienne combined for 34 carries, 214 yards and two touchdowns Friday night. Montrell Johnson notched his 10th rushing touchdown of the season which puts him over 10 rushing TDs in both of his first two collegiate seasons. Johnson and Etienne have proved to be one of the best running back duos in college football. Both are back in a Florida jersey next year.
FLORIDA’S OFFENSIVE LINE
Florida’s OL was dominant against a good FSU front seven. The push and gaps they created allowed Florida’s rushing attack flourish. The offensive line has been fairly consistent all year long and deserve their recognition.
PENALTIES
Penalties prove costly once again for Florida. The Gators were flagged ten times for 91 yards. FSU was flagged six times for 36 yards. Florida could have pulled this one off with clean football. The Gators were a disciplined football team for the most part in 2022, but they slipped up in the last few weeks.
WR INJURIES
The youth in Florida’s receiving core was evident tonight. Caleb Douglas had two dropped passes in key situations and no receivers other than veteran Ricky Pearsall stepped up to the plate. Richardson wasn’t accurate with the football, but when he was, his receivers weren’t helping him out. I’m still comfortable with the WR room going into next season as the young guys should continue to improve. Ricky Pearsall returning should be this staffs #1 priority.
Florida will await their bowl game bid for their final game of the 2022 season.