The Quick Slant: Instant Analysis from Gators 28, Vols 27
Saturday, September 26, 2015 | Football, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The game was lost. And then it wasn't. Or was it?
It wasn't.
Tennessee kicker Aaron Medley's 55-yard field goal attempt was wide right as time expired, handing the Florida Gators a miraculous come-from-behind 28-27 victory the likes of which The Swamp has not seen in a long, long time.
Medley's kick came after UF coach Jim McElwain called a timeout before a first attempt that Medley pushed wide right, as Florida Field launched into hysterics after winning a game the Gators trailed by 13 points with five minutes remaining.
But Medley got a second chance, and he pushed that one right too as Florida extended its winning streak in the series to 11 straight.
Redshirt freshman Will Grier (23 of 42 for 283 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) hit true freshman wide receiver Antonio Callaway on a square-in route on a fourth-and-13 from the Tennessee 37. Callaway caught the ball, spun back to his left and around a couple UT defenders, up the UF sideline, got a great downfield block from slotback Brandon Powell, and scored with 1:26 to go, as Florida Field went beserk.
Tennessee had a chance to win the game with a field goal, but ...
WHAT IT MEANS: Everything, for now. The Gators (4-0, 2-0) are undefeated in the SEC East Division, with an all-important head-to-head tiebreaker against the Volunteers (2-2, 0-1).
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Callaway, the rookie out Miami Booker T. Washington. We'd seen glimpses of his skill in the previous three games, but his touchdown took everything about the kid to another level. Callaway had five catches for 112 yards, but the last one was the one everyone will remember.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators trailed 27-14 in the final quarter and their first nine possessions of the game looked like this: punt, touchdown, punt, punt, punt, punt, interception, end of half and punt. UF's last four possessions: touchdown, punt, touchdown, touchdown. What happened? It wasn't because the Gators were particularly sharp on offense or because they were running the ball. They just made some short plays, moved the chains and finished drives. But they also made clutch plays. UF was 5-for-5 on fourth down for the game, including 3-for-3 in the fourth quarter. Grier gets big-time credit for settling in late after getting knocked around pretty good by a game UT defense.
SUBPLOT: Imagine the angst Tennessee is dealing with. The Gators not only have won 11 straight, dating to 2005, but also 24 of the last 30 meetings, dating to 1975. The Rocky Top folks in the stadium were feeling great and singing loudly in the fourth quarter. Afterward? Not so much.
UP NEXT: Florida (4-0, 2-0) is home again -- for the fourth time in the season's first five weeks -- but this time against a hotty-toddy and third-ranked Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0) squad that last week went to Tuscaloosa and hung 43 points on Alabama, making the first time in their storied history the Rebels defeated the Crimson Tide two years in a row. Ole Miss is home against Vanderbilt Saturday night.
