The Quick Slant: Instant Analysis from UF's 65-0 Win
Sunday, September 7, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators got exactly what the doctor ordered.
Big plays on offense, defense and special teams. Lots of yards. Points and points and more points. Most importantly, they got a win.
They hadn't had one of those in 336 days. But on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the Gators vented by rolling to a 65-0 win over Eastern Michigan. Florida won for the first time since beating Arkansas 11 months ago, snapping a seven-game losing streak and putting an end to a long offseason..
Here is our instant analysis of UF's impressive win:
THE QUICK SLANT
WHAT IT MEANS: Perhaps more than anything, Saturday's victory was a shot of much-needed confidence for a team and fan base that endured one of the most difficult seasons in the program's history in 2013. With last week's game against Idaho getting washed out, the Gators have only one game before opening their conference schedule at home next week against Kentucky. They had the kind of performance they can feel good about with the SEC looming.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Everyone wanted to see how the Gators would perform in the first game since new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and his up-tempo offense arrived from Duke. Let's just say Roper, quarterback Jeff Driskel and the rest of the offense passed the test. Driskel finished 31 of 45 for 248 yards and a touchdown, the most completions for a UF quarterback since Tim Tebow's final game in a UF uniform.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Let's do the math: 396 yards passing + 259 yards rushing = 655 yards of total offense. That is more than twice the amount of yards the Gators averaged in 2013.
SUBPLOT: True freshman quarterback Treon Harris replaced Driskel late in the game and on his first career pass connected with Demarcus Robinson for a 70-yard touchdown throw. On his second pass, Harris hit Mark Herndon for a 78-yard scoring strike. That's called an impressive debut.
UP NEXT: The Gators open conference play against Kentucky, their final warm-up before traveling to No. 2-ranked Alabama on Sept. 20. While the Gators' season opener was a smashing success Saturday, they will head into the Kentucky game without tight end Jake McGee (season-ending broken leg) and left tackle D.J. Humphries (ankle). Humphries is expected back in approximately two weeks.
