The Florida Gators put on a show in front of 88,163 fans on Saturday night, the 6th largest crowd in program history against an FCS opponent. The Orange and Blue cruised to a 49-7 win behind 560 yards and seven straight offensive touchdowns to open the game. Austin Armstrong’s defense handled McNeese State, holding the Cowboys to just 112 yards, which is the Gators’ best defensive performance in 86 games (2016, North Texas, 53 yards).
Gator Country recaps Florida’s week two victory over McNeese State.
The Florida Gators marched right down the field to open the game, finishing the drive with a two-yard touchdown run from Montrell Johnson, his first of the season. The 5-11, 215-pound Louisiana native dealt most of the damage on the opening drive, breaking off two 10+ yard rushes, totaling 44 yards on five carries.
Unfortunately for Florida, the Special Teams miscues continued as LS Rocco Underwood sailed his snap, forcing holder Jeremey Crawshaw to chase it down. Florida leads 6-0 three minutes and 53 seconds into the game.
Linebacker Scooby Williams delivered a big hit on McNeese State’s QB Nate Glantz on the following drive, forcing a Cowboys punt while generating the first sack and tackle for loss of his career.
After McNeese State downed their punt at the one-yard line, Florida goes 99 yards on 11 plays, capping it off with a Graham Mertz QB sneak for six points. UF leads 13-0 with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. RB Trevor Etienne ripped off a 22-yard run while freshman receiver Eugene Wilson totaled three touches for 34 yards on the Gators’ second offensive possession.
END OF Q1: UF 13 MCN 0
OLB Princely Umanmielen registered his first sack of the 2023 season, forcing the Cowboys’ second punt of the night with 12:23 left to play in the first half.
After drive one and two were handled by Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne, it was freshman Treyaun Webb’s turn. The Jacksonville native totaled eight touches, 45 yards, and a touchdown on Florida’s third offensive possession of the game. Webb’s most impressive play came on a 3rd and five screen pass, where he caught the ball, made a defender miss, and rumbled forward for 12 yards and a first down. Webb would cap off a dominant drive with a two-yard touchdown run, the first of his career. After a failed two-point conversion, Florida leads 19-0.
After Florida forced their first three and out of the game, Montrell Johnson leads the Gators down the field again, gaining 50 yards on six carries, including two 15-yard rushes. Trevor Etienne caps off the 10 play, 74-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run of his own, the first of the season for the sophomore. UF leads 26-0.
Florida scored a touchdown on all four of their first half possessions.
HALFTIME: UF 26 MCN 0
After forcing a three and out to start the second half, the Gators found the endzone in just seven plays as Montrell Johnson recorded his second touchdown of the night on an eight-yard run. WR Ricky Pearsall notched two receptions for 37 yards on the Florida’s opening possession of the second half. UF leads 33-0 with 9:27 left in the third quarter.
While McNeese State’s defensive alignment kept Florida from airing it out early in the game, Graham Mertz was able to connect with Ricky Pearsall on a 50-yard touchdown pass with 3:45 to play in the third quarter, extending Florida’s lead to 40-0.
Two plays later, the Gators’ defense got in on the scoring party as Caleb Banks and TJ Searcy combined for a TFL resulting in a safety. Gators lead 42-0. This was the first Gators’ safety since Set. 10, 2022 vs Kentucky.
END OF Q3: UF 42 MCN 0
With Max Brown in at quarterback, the Gators scored their seventh straight touchdown after Treyaun Webb finds the endzone on a five-yard run for his second touchdown of the game. The freshman found seven of his 14 carries on this drive alone, resulting in 38 yards. Florida leads 49-0.
The Gators’ scoring parade came to an end after walk-on QB Micah Leon took over in the fourth quarter.
Florida held a shutout for the majority of the contest, but an Eddie Battle fumble set the Cowboys up at the UF eight-yard line. RB Coleby Hamm finds the endzone the very next play.
FINAL: UF 49 MCN 7
QUICK HITS
- Montrell Johnson led the Gators rushing attack with 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns (7.9 YPC).
- Freshman RB Treyaun Webb broke onto the scene with 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the firsts of his career.
- Through two games, Ricky Pearsall has 14 catches for 215 games.
- Mertz totaled just three incompletions against McNeese State (14-17), and two of those were drops.
- Scooby Willaims recorded his first career sack and tackle for loss against McNeese State.
- Freshman safety Bryce Thornton recorded his first career TFL in his first collegiate game.
- OLB Princely Umanmeielen recorded his first sack of the 2023 season and finished the contest with 1.5 tackles for loss.
- Four different ball carriers scored touchdowns against McNeese State (Johnson x2, Etienne, Webb x2, and Mertz).
- Jaydon Hill recorded five tackles and a pass break up.