TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida hung around with Florida State in their annual rivalry showdown, but repeatedly settling for field goals is no recipe to defeat the nation's top-ranked team and reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston threw two touchdowns passes in the second quarter after linebacker Terrence Smith returned an interception 94 yards for a momentum-changing touchdown, as the Seminoles wiped out an early nine-point deficit and went on to defeat the Gators 24-19 in their annual rivalry at Doak Campbell Stadium and final game for UF coach Will Muschamp.
FSU (12-0), winners of 28 straight, overcame a career-worst four interceptions by Winston, but from those four picks -- three of which placed the Gators in Seminoles' territory -- UF (6-5) managed just six points, thus reflecting an offense that has struggled most of the season and ultimately cost Muschamp his job.
After four seasons on the Florida sideline, Muschamp will now step aside with a 28-21 record. Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin will take over as "interim" head coach and guide the Gators to whatever bowl game comes calling.
The Florida defense was terrific in holding the potent Florida State offense to just 306 total yards, with 176 of those coming on the Seminoles lone touchdown drives, both in the second quarter. Offensively, though, the Gators managed only 282 yards and turned to placekicker Austin Hardin to finish drives with field goals of 52, 39, 43 and 32 yards on his first four attempts.
It worked for a while, but the Gators eventually watched Hardin, with his team trailing 21-19, push wide right attempts from 52 late in the third quarter and 42 midway in the fourth, either of which would have given Florida the lead.
Robert Aguayo's 37-yard field goal with 3:23 to go forced the Gators to have to go for a touchdown to win the game.
Freshman quarterback Treon Harris, who completed just 13 of his 32 passes for 169 yards, was 0-for-6 on the final drive and threw behind a wide-open Demarcus Robinson on fourth-and-10, a play that would have moved UF to the Florida State 30 with 1:42 left.
Interceptions of Winston by Jabari Gorman and Quincy Wilson on the game's first two possessions led to field goals. A great catch by freshman Brandon Powell on a 42-yard completition made for another great opportunity to pad a 6-0 lead in the opening period, but again the offense stalled and Hardin was there for the field goal.
And, yes, Winston threw another interception.
While rolling right and backed up near his goal line, he tried to force a throw downfield that cornerback Brian Poole picked off at the FSU 9. But instead of padding the score and going up 12-0 or 16-0, Harris' short pass to Tevin Westbrook was a hair behind the tight end, and maybe a tad hard for a short delivery, and bounced off his shoulder pads and into the arms of FSU linebacker Terrance Smith at the 6-yard line.
Smith went 94 yards for a game-altering touchdown that made the score 9-7.
After a Seminoles defensive stop, Winston drove his team 93 yards in 12 plays, hitting tight end Nick O'Leary on third-and-goal to give FSU its first lead of the game at 14-9. And after another FSU stop, Winston again took advantage. Aided by a 15-yard unsportsman conduct on freshman defensive lineman Gerald Willis -- who wasn't even playing, yet threw a forearm at Winston after a scramble play carried him into UF's sideline -- the FSU quarterback finished an eight-play, 83-yard drive with a 6-yard TD pass to O'Leary.
It was 21-9.
The Gators got a huge lift just before intermission when their punt coverage team stormed FSU's Cason Beatty and smothered him while in motion, thwarting the kick, forcing a loose ball and taking over at the Seminoles 15-yard line.
On first down, Harris threw a perfect wheel-route pass to tight end Clay Burton for a 15-yard touchdown with 47 seconds to go before halftime.
That play, along with Hardin's field goal to open the second half, accounted for 10 straight points to pull the Gators back within two, 21-19.
Florida had a great chance to retake the lead late in the third quarter when Poole made his second interception of the game and his 27-yard return gave the ball at the FSU 33. But two plays later, wideout Latroy Pittman was called for holding, then compounded the mistake by arguing with the official and getting a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The play cost UF 25 yards in field position and eventually Hardin narrowly missed his 52-yard field goal just wide to the right.
FSU attempted a fake punt on the next possession, but linebacker Alex Anzalone was there to thwart it and give the ball back to the Gators.
Again, opportunity knocked.
Robinson's spectacular leaping, toe-tipping reception along the sidelines gained 41 yards to the FSU 25. From there, though, a penalty and a negative-yardage run backed up the Gators. Hardin's 42-yard attempt was again wide right, this time not even close with 9:42 remaining.
Another chance, another missed opportunity.
There were way too many to get away with. Especially against an FSU team that's lived on the edge all season, survived on it, even thrived on it. Every time, in fact.
The Seminoles did it again.
