Running back Jordan Scarlett gets a lift after his go-ahead touchdown run in Saturday's 37-27 win at Vanderbilt. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Climb to No. 11 Following Fifth Win in Row
Sunday, October 14, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Are the Gators back?
Well, they are close to being back in the top 10.
The Gators climbed three more spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after Saturday's 37-27 comeback victory at Vanderbilt. The Gators (6-1, 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference) are ranked 11th in this week's poll.
Florida overcame a 21-3 deficit on Saturday to beat the Commodores for the 14th consecutive time in Nashville. The 18-point comeback matched the largest deficit in program history in a road victory. The Gators surrendered 17 points on three turnovers and didn't take the lead until the first play of the fourth quarter.
Still, they won their fifth consecutive game and have won six of their first seven games under head coach Dan Mullen.
"We find a way. Don't let go of the rope. If you're getting dragged across the field, it's burning through your hands, you don't let go of the rope,'' Mullen said. "You grasp and you hold on and eventually you get your feet in the ground. We did that."
The Gators rolled up a season-high 576 yards of total offense Saturday, led by a career-high 284 yards passing from quarterback Feleipe Franks. Running backs Lamical Perine (121 yards) and Jordan Scarlett (113) provided ample support in the running game.
Alabama remains No.1 in this week's poll, followed by Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame and LSU. No. 2-ranked Georgia, which lost at LSU on Saturday, dropped to eighth. LSU, which slid from fifth to 13th after losing 27-19 to the Gators eight days ago, is back at No. 5 following a 36-16 upset of Georgia.
The Gators have a bye week before facing the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1) in Jacksonville on Oct. 27 in a key game to determine the SEC East Division title.
Florida's five-game winning streak is its first since opening the season 6-0 in 2015. The last time Florida was ranked in the top 10, the No. 10-ranked Gators lost 31-10 at Arkansas on Nov. 5, 2016. The Gators moved up to No. 12 in the USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll.
The Gators are one of seven SEC teams ranked in this week's AP Top 25.
Well, they are close to being back in the top 10.
The Gators climbed three more spots in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after Saturday's 37-27 comeback victory at Vanderbilt. The Gators (6-1, 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference) are ranked 11th in this week's poll.
Florida overcame a 21-3 deficit on Saturday to beat the Commodores for the 14th consecutive time in Nashville. The 18-point comeback matched the largest deficit in program history in a road victory. The Gators surrendered 17 points on three turnovers and didn't take the lead until the first play of the fourth quarter.
Still, they won their fifth consecutive game and have won six of their first seven games under head coach Dan Mullen.
"We find a way. Don't let go of the rope. If you're getting dragged across the field, it's burning through your hands, you don't let go of the rope,'' Mullen said. "You grasp and you hold on and eventually you get your feet in the ground. We did that."
"That is what great teams do." —@CoachDanMullen pic.twitter.com/mdBfLIGwYS
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) October 13, 2018
The Gators rolled up a season-high 576 yards of total offense Saturday, led by a career-high 284 yards passing from quarterback Feleipe Franks. Running backs Lamical Perine (121 yards) and Jordan Scarlett (113) provided ample support in the running game.
Alabama remains No.1 in this week's poll, followed by Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame and LSU. No. 2-ranked Georgia, which lost at LSU on Saturday, dropped to eighth. LSU, which slid from fifth to 13th after losing 27-19 to the Gators eight days ago, is back at No. 5 following a 36-16 upset of Georgia.
The Gators have a bye week before facing the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1) in Jacksonville on Oct. 27 in a key game to determine the SEC East Division title.
Florida's five-game winning streak is its first since opening the season 6-0 in 2015. The last time Florida was ranked in the top 10, the No. 10-ranked Gators lost 31-10 at Arkansas on Nov. 5, 2016. The Gators moved up to No. 12 in the USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll.
The Gators are one of seven SEC teams ranked in this week's AP Top 25.
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