Gators fans in Nashville show their support for Gators coach Dan Mullen. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Get Tricky -- Again -- to Defeat Vanderbilt
Saturday, October 13, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In an empty Vanderbilt Stadium late Saturday afternoon and with only a few of his teammates yet to make the long walk across the field to Florida's buses, Gators senior defensive lineman Cece Jefferson scanned the empty stands and surroundings.
As Jefferson strolled toward the exit, he lifted his smart phone to snap a photo.
"Another one bites the dust,'' Jefferson said to no one in particular.
For the fifth consecutive week, the Gators headed home winners, their latest conquest a 37-27 victory at Vanderbilt on Saturday that required an 18-point comeback, matching the largest deficit overcome for a road win in program history.
The Commodores not only bit the dust against the No. 14-ranked Gators, they fell victim to another trick play from Florida head coach Dan Mullen's bag of surprises.
Trailing 21-13 midway through the third quarter, the Gators faced a fourth-and-3 from their own 37-yard line. UF's Tommy Townsend had already punted on the opening possession of the second half, and after Vanderbilt kicker Ryley Guay missed a 25-yard field goal to extend the Commodores' lead, another Gators drive had stalled.
On third down, quarterback Feleipe Franks threw an incomplete pass to Lamical Perine on Florida's side of the field. The play immediately brought Mullen onto the field to speak with Franks when he neared the sideline.
However, Franks noticed something odd about Mullen's demeanor.
"He came over to me and was kind of talking to me, but he kept peeking on the field,'' Franks said.
Franks soon found out why Mullen was preoccupied.
Next, Townsend received the ball from long snapper Ryan Farr, hesitated for a brief moment, then took off running. Townsend picked up 18 yards and a first down as Franks quickly turned around to head back onto the field.
"I didn't know about that,'' Franks said. "That was pretty cool. That was a gutsy call by him."
Townsend was more than ready for his opportunity to make a play, much the same way Franks was on a trick play in last week's victory over LSU when the UF quarterback caught a 15-yard pass from tight end Lucas Krull that led to a Lamical Perine touchdown run.
Two weeks ago at Mississippi State, Mullen called a double pass for the go-ahead score when Franks tossed a lateral to Kadarius Toney, who then threw a touchdown pass to tight end Moral Stephens to provide Florida fans a taste of Mullen's trickery.
Mullen's use of gadget plays has sparked the Gators at crucial moments in each of the past three games.
Townsend could hardly contain his excitement on the fake punt, the first of his career.
"I've been anticipating it all week,'' he said. "We've been practicing it hard. I was just waiting for the call, and then once it was made, it was just 'go time.' I love Coach Mullen. He's got a lot of energy. He's not scared to call big-time plays."
Gators punter Tommy Townsend takes off for an 18-yard gain on a fake punt Saturday. The play kept Florida's drive alive and led to a 38-yard touchdown pass from Feleipe Franks to Van Jefferson. (Photo: Carly Mackler/UAA Communications)
Three plays later, Franks hit receiver Van Jefferson for a 38-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 80-yard drive for the Gators and cut Vanderbilt's lead to 21-20. After forcing the Commodores to punt on their next possession, the Gators took the lead for good on the first play of the fourth quarter on Jordan Scarlett's 48-yard touchdown run.
Mullen's knack of calling trick plays at the right time was a topic of conversation before Saturday's game.
Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason saw Krull's pass to Franks in the LSU game and entered Saturday's matchup leery of a surprise play factoring in the outcome.
"I've known Dan for a while, he's doing a terrific job, and he always has something up his sleeve,'' Mason said.
Mullen had simple reasons for Saturday's fake punt.
"We needed some momentum. It seemed like a good time to call it,'' Mullen said. "It's when you call it and the execution. It's drawn up to work, but it's not like a base play that you've practiced 5,000 times. It's stuff you have to be ready for in those situations.
"We called it and they rolled with it."
The Gators needed something extra to avoid a letdown following their emotional victory over LSU the previous week. Mullen sensed it during practice this week. And then on Saturday, the Gators trailed 21-3 with 6:42 left in the first half.
When they decided to try it, it was all about timing and execution. Mullen said Vanderbilt's punt defense had offered an earlier look that the Gators felt was susceptible to a fake.
The rest was left to Townsend's straight-ahead running.
"I was so juiced up,'' Townsend said. "In my head, I'm just sitting there screaming. I was super-hyped. It was a great opportunity. It was awesome."
In more ways than one, another Gators' opponent really did bite the dust.
