Grantham Views Goal-Line Stand as a Testament to Defense's Unity

Cece Jefferson, Jabari Zuniga, Adam Shuler

The Gators swarm Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield during their impressive goal-line stand on Saturday. (Photo: Jay Metz/UAA Communications)

Grantham Views Goal-Line Stand as a Testament to Defense's Unity

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three days later, linebacker Vosean Joseph still shakes his head as his voice ratchets up a notch when he talks about Florida's unforgettable goal-line stand against Georgia.

Joseph had two tackles on the Bulldogs' futile six-play, zero-yard drive from the Gators' 1-yard line after Georgia recovered a fumble by quarterback Feleipe Franks. The Bulldogs actually ran seven plays during the sequence, but UF defensive lineman Jabari Zuniga was called off-sides on one play – a run for no gain by Elijah Holyfield -- and cornerback C.J. McWilliams was called for a questionable pass interference on third down that provoked the ire of Gators head coach Dan Mullen.

"It was amazing, just executing something as a defense that we actually take pride in," Joseph said. "They thought they were getting into the end zone right there and we just had to show them, 'We're here. It ain't easy.' We knew in our head that we're going to keep fighting."

Denied a touchdown, Georgia settled for an 18-yard field goal by Rodrigo Blankenship that stretched its lead to 23-14.

Mullen used the defensive effort as a rallying point for the team moving forward. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham did the same.

"I'll be honest, that's probably the greatest goal-line stand I've ever been a part of,'' Grantham said following Monday's practice. "I was really proud of it and I think it really says a lot about the attitude of our players. I think it talks about their belief in what we're doing, their belief in each other, and really it kind of goes back to that game from a standpoint of 'I really liked our effort, I liked the way we played.' When you face a talented team like that, you gotta be exact in your fundamentals and what you're doing."

For Gators fans, the goal-line stand stirred memories of Florida's memorable win at LSU two years ago to clinch the program's second straight SEC East title. While that one ended in more dramatic fashion, Saturday's effort ranks as one of the highlights of Mullen's first season despite Florida's 36-17 loss.

On second-and-goal on Georgia's first set of downs, Joseph and teammate Luke Ancrum dropped D'Andre Swift for a 1-yard loss.
Grantham especially liked the effort on the play.

"You saw guys running to the ball from both sides and they had a little bit of edge to them,'' he said. "You know, I kind of felt like we had a chance once we stopped them and got that as a negative-yardage play."

On third down, McWilliams was flagged for pass interference after Jake Fromm's pass to Jeremiah Holloman fell incomplete. After back-to-back sneaks by Fromm yielded no gain, Georgia was forced to kick a field goal when Joseph and Zuniga stopped Holyfield short of the end zone.

Grantham said the Gators practice goal-line defense every Thursday in practice. A 20-year veteran of the NFL and college, Grantham can't recall a more impressive stand by one of his defenses.

"Honestly, I can't even really say that I've had one that has been in that kind of game where you had that many plays inside the 1,'' he said. "That tops the hat for me."

The drive took 3 minutes, 58 seconds off the game clock.

"That has to be a record,'' defensive lineman Cece Jefferson quipped after the game.

This stop was 💪🐊💪🐊💪🐊💪🐊

(via @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/CEXc6hoHqJ
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) October 27, 2018

Georgia coach Kirby Smart had a different opinion of the sequence.

Of the seven snaps prior to the field goal, other than the one pass attempt negated due to pass interference, Holyfield was stopped three times (one negated due to a penalty), Fromm twice, and Swift once.

"You've got to get the ball in from the 1," Smart told reporters. "Give them credit, they had a great defensive stand, but to have that many snaps and not get in falls right here with me. It's an indictment of me. We've got to practice goal line more. It was definitely frustrating."

Joseph finished with a game-high 13 tackles and credited Grantham's scheme and teaching with much of his improvement. Grantham, meanwhile, said the goal-line stand is something the defense can use as a reminder of what it can do in the season's final stretch.

Florida enters Saturday's Homecoming game against Missouri 20th in the country in scoring defense, surrendering only 19 points a game. That is an improvement of 8.3 points per game – or 49 spots in the national ranking from a year ago (27.3 ppg, 69th in the FBS).

"It shows the attitude of our players. I think it shows the commitment of our players,'' Grantham said. "The biggest thing I got from that is we played as a team. And if you do that, you're gonna be good."