In Win Over FAU, Gators' Defense Delivers -- Again
Sunday, November 22, 2015 | Football
By TARYN BRAY
GatorZone.com Writing Intern
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a scoreless game that appeared to be inching toward potential disaster with each snap, the No. 8-ranked Gators made a play.
Is anyone surprised it was on defense?
If you know about the Gators, you are familiar with this story line: the defense kept them in the game Saturday in a 20-14 overtime victory against upset-minded Florida Atlantic.
The Florida offense looked stagnant and inexperienced in a scoreless first half. The Gators managed only four first downs and 69 yards in the first 30 minutes Saturday.
It wasn't until the Gators took over with 10:01 left in the third quarter that their offense finally found the end zone thanks to an imperative defensive play which shifted the tides.
Senior linebacker Antonio Morrison sacked Florida Atlantic quarterback Jason Driskel for a loss of nine yards and forced a fumble at the 50-yard line that was recovered by redshirt freshman Taven Bryan.
The 290-pound Bryan scooped up the ball and raced 48 yards to the FAU 2-yard line.
“Taven's from a neighboring state there in Wyoming, which is right next to Montana,'' Florida head coach Jim McElwain said. “I think there were faster guys down here chasing him. I think he would have scored in Wyoming with that one.
“We needed something good to happen and it happened.”
Two plays later junior running back Kelvin Taylor scored on a 1-yard run for the game's first score. It was Taylor's 13th rushing touchdown of the season.
Still, had it not been for a monster hit by Morrison and Bryan's fumble recovery, the Gators' first touchdown likely comes much later in the game.
“Yeah [the touchdown] gives you a boost but at the same time I think we get a mindset that we get any points ahead and, you know, they got us,” said tight end Jake McGee. “We can't do that. We need to attack and to get points for ourselves. To be a strong offense you can't just rely on the defense on the other side.”
The Gators had only 227 yards at the end of regulation Saturday, relying heavily once again on the nation's fifth-ranked defense to keep them in the game.
And that they did.
The Gators forced three turnovers and had five sacks against FAU despite several injuries to key players.
With Vernon Hargreaves III out most of the game because of an illness, Jalen Tabor one again rose to the challenge. He had five pass breakups and one interception, although in postgame interviews he noted he should have had three.
His fourth-quarter interception gave the ball to the Gators offense at the FAU 21-yard line, but once again, they were unable to convert the good field possession into points.
“No matter where the ball is we feel like we can go out there and get a stop,” Tabor said. “We've been through this last year so we know how to go into it when [the offense] struggles a bit.”
Forcing turnovers has seemingly become a theme for this defense and Saturday was certainly no exception.
Even with a defensive front that in no way, shape or form seems familiar.
With Alex McCalister, Caleb Brantley, Jordan Sherit and Joey Ivie all out due to injuries, others were forced to step up and in one particular case, change sides of the ball completely.
Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Antonio Riles made the switch over to the defense in practice earlier this week as per the coach's request.
“There were a bunch of guys who haven't taken a ton of reps together,” McElwain said.
Added Riles: “I'm confident in our defense. We had enough guys to fit in those positions and we made it work.”
That they did.
For the seventh time this season Florida defense limited its opponent to less than 300 yards, a true testament to how hard their defense plays.
“Time and time again guys on defense stepped up and played,” said McElwain. “Figuring out a way to win, that's what it's all about.”
