Florida Gators have reason for optimism after season opener

The excitement and expectations surrounding Dan Mullen and his Florida Gators were reaching astronomical levels.

10 wins, 11 wins, an undefeated season, something that wasn’t even accomplished with Tim Tebow, were being thrown around leading up to the game. This is, after all, a team coming off of a four win season that Mullen is trying to resurrect.

Well, Mullen didn’t do anything to tamper those expectations on Saturday night in his debut. The Florida Gators rushed out to an early lead and never looked back. The offense was churning on all cylinders in the first half before the backups were injected.

Yes, it’s Charleston Southern. They’re a bad football team with a defensive line that started two linemen who weighed 220 each (Florida freshman linebacker David Reese weighs 220) and the line’s average weight was 249 pounds. Florida was supposed to beat Charleston Southern but they went out and beat a team they were supposed to beat exactly how they were supposed to beat them. No settling for field goals, no holding your breath in the fourth quarter.

So, yes, there should be restraint and perspective used but that can wait. For now, after years of ineptitude, let’s focus on the positive.

– Florida threw for five touchdown passes in a half for just the fourth time in school history.
o October 14, 2000 – Rex Grossman (5) vs. Auburn
o September 26, 1998 – Jesse Palmer (two) Doug Johnson 3 vs. Kentucky
o September 6, 1997 – Doug Johnson (7) vs. Central Michigan
– Florida help Charleston Southern to three passing yards, it’s just the second time since 1996 that Florida has held an opponent to under 10 passing yards in a game.

Offensive Notes
– Florida scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the first time in 15 games, with the last occurrence being against
South Carolina on Nov. 12, 2016
 Feleipe Franks joined Chris Leak (Nov. 13, 2004), Rex Grossman (3 times – 2000-01), Doug Johnson (3 times – 1997-98),
and Danny Wuerffel (Dec. 7, 1996) as the only Gators since 1996 to throw five touchdown passes in a game.
o Leak was the last quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in a game, tossing six against South Carolina.
 Van Jefferson posted his first career multi-touchdown game; he came to UF with four career receiving touchdowns.
 Trevon Grimes finished his Gators debut with three receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown.
o He had three catches for 20 yards last season with Ohio State.

Special teams
Florida kickers have made 19 consecutive field goals, a streak that dates back to last year’s opener against Michigan.

Evan McPherson, 2 for 2 (21, 8:10 1st quarter; 31, 10:58 3rd quarter), Jorge Powell 1 for 1 (39—career long, 4:48 3rd quarter).

Zach Carter’s block of Charleston Southern’s 22-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half was Florida’s first blocked field goal since Nov. 26, 2016 at Florida State (Joey Ivie blocked a 44-yard attempt)

Jeremiah Moon’s block on Charleston Southern’s extra point attempt gave Florida its first game with two blocked kicks since the 2013 Sugar Bowl, when Sharrif Floyd blocked a field goal and Mike Taylor blocked an extra point.

Austin Perry’s return of the blocked extra point for a defensive two-point conversion was Florida’s first since the 2016 SEC Championship game against Alabama (Jabari Zuniga block, David Reese return for two points).

Notable firsts
Reception: Trevon Grimes (34-yard touchdown reception, 1st quarter); Van Jefferson (13 yards, final play of 1st quarter); Kemore Gamble (seven yards, 2nd quarter) Lucas Krull (three yards, 2nd quarter); Rick Wells (six yards, 3rd quarter)

Rushing attempt: Damien Pierce (27-yard run, 3rd quarter) Kyle Trask (12-yard touchdown run, 3rd quarter); Iverson Clement (four yards, 4th quarter) Emory Jones (fumbled and recovered own fumble, 4th quarter)

First pass attempt: Kyle Trask (4-yard completion to Trevon Grimes) ω First touchdown: Trevon Grimes (34-yard reception, 1st quarter – also first career Gators reception); Van Jefferson (6- yard reception, 1st quarter); Josh Hammond (6-yard reception, 2nd quarter); Kyle Trask (12-yard run, 3rd quarter)

First fumble recovery: TJ Slaton (first drive of 3rd quarter, with 22-yard return); Adam Shuler (3rd quarter)

First tackle: Lacedrick Brunson, Amari Burney, Zachary Carter, Andrew Chatfield Jr., Trey Dean III, Marlon Dunlap Jr., James Houston IV, John Huggins, Malik Langham, Ventrell Miller, Nick Oelrich, Damien Pierce, David Reese (DB), Tanner Rowell, Umstead Sanders, Adam Shuler

First pass breakup: Jeremiah Moon, Jachai Polite ω First interception: John Huggins (next-to-last play of game)