The Quick Slant: LSU 30, Florida 27
Sunday, October 12, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- They seemed to have it. And then they didn't. They had another chance. And then they didn't.
In a back-and-forth SEC showdown against LSU, the Gators appeared on the brink of victory multiple times. Instead, a 30-27 loss forced an electric crowd at The Swamp to stagger onto the sidewalks around campus with looks of disbelief on their faces.
Two plays stand out the most as ones that got away: a third-and-25 play that LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings hit a wide-open Travin Dural for a 41-yard gain and first down. The Tigers scored two plays later on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jennings to Dural for a 27-24 lead with 2:40 left.
The Gators answered with a 73-yard pass from quarterback Jeff Driskel to receiver Demarcus Robinson to the LSU 3. On third-and-goal from the 1, Driskel rolled right and threw a certain touchdown pass to tight end Tevin Westbrook.
The ball fell to the ground, forcing the Gators to settle for a Frankie Velez field goal to tie the game.
The Gators forced a punt, got the ball back and on first-and-10 at LSU's 45, needed only a few more yards to get into Austin Hardin's field-goal range.
Never happened.
Driskel's pass across the middle to Latroy Pittman was deflected, intercepted by Rickey Jefferson and returned to Florida's 36-yard line.
Three plays later, Colby Delahoussaye drilled a 50-yard field goal for an LSU win.
"It was definitely an emotional wreck,'' said Gators kick returner Andre Debose, who returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown and another 53 yards to set up a field goal. "The emotions were going up and down and the scoreboard was going back and forth."
THE QUICK SLANT
WHAT IT MEANS: What a momentum swinger for the Gators this one is. They would have been feeling really good heading into next week's Homecoming game against Missouri at 4-1, 3-1 in the conference. Instead, a 50-yard field goal by Colby Delahoussaye with 3 seconds left dropped Florida to 3-2, 2-2. The Gators are far from out of the SEC East race, but they could have flexed their muscles as a potential favorite with a win Saturday.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: True freshman Brandon Powell returned after missing time with a hamstring injury and had the best game of his young career. Powell led the Gators with six receptions (66 yards) and added six yards rushing. More than anything, he showed in the fourth quarter how effective he is in the open field and offered promise of another playmaker to the lineup.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Driskel accounted for 254 of Florida's 306 yards of total offense (83 percent). Driskel passed for 183 yards and rushed for a team-high 71 yards.
SUBPLOT: Florida's quarterback situation will be a hot topic leading up to next week's game. While true freshman Treon Harris replaced Driskel at Tennessee and led the Gators to a fourth-quarter comeback, he did not play Saturday following a tumultuous week. However, with Harris reinstated, the quarterback questions will resume.
UP NEXT: The Gators continue a difficult stretch in their conference schedule when Missouri visits Ben Hill Griffin Stadium next weekend. The Tigers were the only SEC East team without a conference loss before getting blitzed at home by Georgia, 34-0, Saturday. With as topsy-turvy as the East has been early in the season, both teams remain in the hunt.
