Notebook: Gators Find Perfect Time For Fake Punt
Sunday, September 19, 2010 | Football, Scott Carter
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – They had worked on the play since the start of practice, but the Gators had not found the perfect time to use it until facing a fourth-and-6 at their own 39 midway through the third quarter of Saturday's 31-17 win over Tennessee.
After taking a 10-3 lead on Caleb Sturgis' field goal to open the second half, the Gators needed a spark after Tennessee answered on its next drive when quarterback Matt Simms connected with Denarius Moore on a 49-yard touchdown pass, tying the game 10-10.
As he lined up in his normal position on the punt team, Omarius Hines just knew the fake-punt call was going to work.
“I was ready for it,'' Hines said. “I knew because I saw only two people out there and we had three blockers on that side.''
Taking the direct snap, Hines tore through the line and cut up field for a 36-yard run, giving the Gators a first down on Tennessee's 25. Six plays later, Florida quarterback John Brantley hit Frankie Hammonds for a 7-yard scoring pass, giving the Gators a 17-10 lead they never relinquished.
Since Urban Meyer took over the program in 2005, the Gators are 8-for-8 on making a first down on fake-punt plays called on fourth down.
“You have to capitalize when you run a trick play,'' Meyer said. “If you don't capitalize, that's about as bad as not making it. We've been working on that really since the beginning of the year. We try to just get numbers, and we got numbers.''
PASSING THE TEST
Making the first road start of his career in front of an announced crowd of 102,455, Brantley admitted he had some serious butterflies prior to the game.
But once the game started, Brantley turned in another workmanlike effort to improve to 3-0 as the Gators' starting quarterback.
“I was a little nervous, I'm not going to lie,'' said Brantley, who could barely speak after the game due to trying to overcome the crowd noise during the game. “It was a lot of fun. It was a great atmosphere.''
Brantley finished 14 of 23 for 167 yards and one touchdown. Most importantly, he didn't throw an interception for the third consecutive game.
Brantley has yet to throw for 200 yards in a game this season, but he wasn't going to let that bother him after leading UF to its third consecutive win at Neyland Stadium for the first time in school history.
“We got the win,'' he said. “That's all that matters to me.''
Brantley completed passes to seven different receivers Saturday, including a 24-yard pass to Deonte Thompson – his longest completion of the game – that kick started the Gators' final scoring drive.
“We showed today that the receivers can make a lot of plays,'' Brantley said. “I didn't put the ball in the best spots, but they went up to get the ball.''
STOPPING TOOLE
Tennessee junior running back Tauren Poole entered the game as the SEC's leading rusher with 272 yards. The Gators limited Poole to 23 yards on 10 carries Saturday.
“We definitely wanted to try and expose that young offensive line,'' Gators defensive end Justin Trattou said. “We're a more experienced group. Anytime you go on the road in the SEC, you definitely have to bring your defense. We definitely showed up.''
Overall, the Gators limited Tennessee to 29 yards on 23 attempts.
A SPECIAL CATCH
Sophomore receiver Frankie Hammond, who was suspended the first two games made his first catch of the season a special one.
Hammond's 7-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter gave the Gators the lead for good.
“That was a good feeling,'' he said. “I made a mistake, I learned from it. I'm just trying to move on.''
Hammond played in 11 games last season, catching four passes for 57 yards and one touchdown.
EXTRA POINTS
Meyer said Emmanuel Moody was limited by a bruised thigh, forcing Jeff Demps to carry more of the rushing load than expected. Demps rushed for 73 yards on 26 carries, the most carries by a Gators RB since Ciatrick Fason rushed 26 times vs. Vanderbilt in November 2004 … Florida converted 8-of-14 third-down opportunities after going 8-for-25 the first two games … Meyer improved to 16-1 in rival games, those contests against Tennessee, Georgia, Miami and Florida State … Meyer improved to 60-10 during his six seasons at Florida with Saturday's win, his sixth consecutive over the Volunteers … The Gators had 19 players make their first appearance in a road game.
