The Gators run onto the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Saturday's game against Michigan. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Scoreboard: In-Game Updates, Notes, Highlights from Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Saturday, December 29, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
ATLANTA -- The Gators are trying to do something they have never done today in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Actually, make that two things they have never accomplished.
First, No. 10-ranked Florida (9-3) seeks to win the Peach Bowl for the first time. UF is 0-2 all-time in this game, losing to West Virginia in 1981 and Miami in 2004.
Next, the Gators will try to record their inaugural win over No. 7 Michigan (10-2). The Wolverines have won all four previous meetings, including three victories over the Gators in bowl games (2003 Outback Bowl, 2008 Capital One Bowl and 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl).
The latest matchup takes place at noon today at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Florida's first visit to the home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and site of the 2019 Super Bowl.
Check back here throughout the game for regular updates as the Gators try to cap their first season under head coach Dan Mullen with a milestone victory:
1ST QUARTER
Florida 3, Michigan 0 (5:37) -- Evan McPherson puts the Gators on the scoreboard first with a 21-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive in 3 minutes, 52 seconds. Quarterback Feleipe Franks hit receiver Van Jefferson for a 41-yard gain, which moved the Gators to Michigan's 3. However, the Wolverines' defense tightened and when Franks' third-down pass to Trevon Grimes was knocked away by cornerback Brandon Watson, McPherson came on for his 16th field goal in 18 attempts this season.
Michigan 7, Florida 3 (2:03) -- Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson connects with Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 9-yard touchdown pass to give the Wolverines the lead. Michigan needed only 3:34 to drive 75 yards on nine plays.
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NOTES: Franks finished 5 of 8 for 93 yards in the first quarter; Patterson was 5 of 8 for 94 yards and a touchdown ... On the third play of the game, Michigan running back Christian Turner broke free down the right sideline for an apparent 46-yard touchdown run. However, replay officials ruled Turner stepped out of bounds at Florida's 38 after being pushed by linebacker David Reese. The Gators stopped Michigan on downs by stuffing fullback Ben Mason on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1.
2ND QUARTER
Michigan 7, Florida 6 (12:22) -- McPherson connects on a 26-yard field goal to cap the Gators' 10-play, 66-yard drive in 4:41. McPherson improved to 11-for-11 on kicks between 20-29 yards this season.
Michigan 10, Florida 6 (5:56) -- The Wolverines stretch their lead after a blocked punt gave them possession at UF's 30. Jake Moody's 48-yard field goal capped a four-play, zero-yard drive in 1:58.
Florida 13, Michigan 10 (2:41) -- On second-and-19, the Gators called a quarterback draw for Franks and it worked to perfection. Franks took off, made a nice cut early in the run, and then dove into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown run that capped UF's eight-play, 75-yard drive in 3:15.
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NOTES: The Gators outgained Michigan 228-189 in the first half; Franks was 7 of 13 for 100 yards and rushed nine times for a team-high 70 yards ... Moody missed a 52-yard field goal with six seconds left in the first half ... UF freshman defensive back Amari Burney was credited with a pass break-up in the second quarter ... The sack Gators defensive end Jachai Polite was credited with was removed at halftime because after Patterson's fumble the Wolverines gained yards on the play when Turner picked up the fumble and scrambled for a 7-yard gain. However, Polite still gets credit for his sixth forced fumble of the season, which ties UF's single-season record set in 1986 by Clifford Charlton ... Freshman quarterback Emory Jones, who had a special package of plays designed for him in the Peach Bowl, took the first two snaps of the second quarter for the Gators ... When punter Tommy Townsend's punt was blocked, it marked the third consecutive game in Atlanta for the Gators that a Townsend brother's punt was blocked. It happened to Johnny Townsend in 2015 and '16 against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
3RD QUARTER
Florida 20, Michigan 10 (8:06) -- The Gators capitalized after Chauncey Gardner-Johnson's interception gave them the ball inside Michigan's territory. Florida marched 44 yards on six plays, stretching its lead to 10 on a 5-yard scoring pass from Franks to running back Lamical Perine.
Florida 27, Michigan 10 (2:34) -- Dan Mullen is dialing up some nice plays today. On third-and-goal from Michigan's 1, Franks took the snake, faked a cut up field and then pitched to running back Jordan Scarlett for a touchdown. Scarlett did most of the heavy lifting on Florida's eight-play, 63-drive by carrying four times for 35 yards. Scarlett's best run was a 30-yard gain that included broken tackles and a slashing downfield cut to get to the Wolverines' 3.
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NOTES: Junior Gardner-Johnson, playing in his final game for the Gators, returned a Patterson interception 53 yards to the Wolverines' 44 as Michigan drove deep into UF territory on its first drive of the second half. Gardner-Johnson had a pair of interceptions in his first bowl game at Florida, a 30-3 win over Iowa in the 2017 Outback Bowl, to earn MVP honors ... Receiver Kadarius Toney gained 30 yards on a jet sweep -- on fourth-and-1 no less -- to help set up Franks' touchdown pass to Perine.
4TH QUARTER
Florida 27, Michigan 13 (12:16) -- The Wolverines refuse to go away and drive 67 yards on 11 plays, settling or a 26-yard field goal by Moody to trim the Gators' lead to within a pair of scores. Moody's kick snapped a streak of 21 unanswered points for the Gators. On third down, official initially ruled Tarik Black caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Patterson. However, replays showed he never had possession and Michigan opted to bring on Moody.
Florida 34, Michigan 13 (9:21) -- Florida may have just sealed this one as Perine goes 53 yards for a touchdown. The Gators have 413 yards of total offense against Michigan's No. 1-ranked defense.
Florida 34, Michigan 15 (4:58) -- Wolverines block second of punt of game to record a safety on UF's recovery in own end zone.
Florida 41, Michigan 15 (4:43) -- Gardner Johnson picks off his second pass of the game and returns this one 30 yards for a touchdown, putting an exclamation point on UF's first victory over Michigan.
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NOTES: Senior tight end C'yontai Lewis had a 28-yard catch on the scoring drive that ended on Perine's long run.
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Editor's Note: At the conclusion of today's game, check out FloridaGators.com senior writer Chris Harry's "Quick Slant" for instant analysis.
First, No. 10-ranked Florida (9-3) seeks to win the Peach Bowl for the first time. UF is 0-2 all-time in this game, losing to West Virginia in 1981 and Miami in 2004.
Next, the Gators will try to record their inaugural win over No. 7 Michigan (10-2). The Wolverines have won all four previous meetings, including three victories over the Gators in bowl games (2003 Outback Bowl, 2008 Capital One Bowl and 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl).
The latest matchup takes place at noon today at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Florida's first visit to the home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and site of the 2019 Super Bowl.
Check back here throughout the game for regular updates as the Gators try to cap their first season under head coach Dan Mullen with a milestone victory:
1ST QUARTER
Florida 3, Michigan 0 (5:37) -- Evan McPherson puts the Gators on the scoreboard first with a 21-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive in 3 minutes, 52 seconds. Quarterback Feleipe Franks hit receiver Van Jefferson for a 41-yard gain, which moved the Gators to Michigan's 3. However, the Wolverines' defense tightened and when Franks' third-down pass to Trevon Grimes was knocked away by cornerback Brandon Watson, McPherson came on for his 16th field goal in 18 attempts this season.
Feleipe Franks with a dime to Van Jefferson! #Gators #PeachBowl pic.twitter.com/GsnwxdqkhC
— #NobodyDied (@ftbeard_17) December 29, 2018
Michigan 7, Florida 3 (2:03) -- Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson connects with Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 9-yard touchdown pass to give the Wolverines the lead. Michigan needed only 3:34 to drive 75 yards on nine plays.
Shea Patterson connects with Donovan Peoples-Jones for a #Michigan touchdown! Their first score of the #PeachBowl #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/pnRJ6AUh65
— Michigan Sports News (@SportsGuyMI) December 29, 2018
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NOTES: Franks finished 5 of 8 for 93 yards in the first quarter; Patterson was 5 of 8 for 94 yards and a touchdown ... On the third play of the game, Michigan running back Christian Turner broke free down the right sideline for an apparent 46-yard touchdown run. However, replay officials ruled Turner stepped out of bounds at Florida's 38 after being pushed by linebacker David Reese. The Gators stopped Michigan on downs by stuffing fullback Ben Mason on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1.
2ND QUARTER
Michigan 7, Florida 6 (12:22) -- McPherson connects on a 26-yard field goal to cap the Gators' 10-play, 66-yard drive in 4:41. McPherson improved to 11-for-11 on kicks between 20-29 yards this season.
Michigan 10, Florida 6 (5:56) -- The Wolverines stretch their lead after a blocked punt gave them possession at UF's 30. Jake Moody's 48-yard field goal capped a four-play, zero-yard drive in 1:58.
Florida 13, Michigan 10 (2:41) -- On second-and-19, the Gators called a quarterback draw for Franks and it worked to perfection. Franks took off, made a nice cut early in the run, and then dove into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown run that capped UF's eight-play, 75-yard drive in 3:15.
Feleipe is IN!
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 29, 2018
TOUCHDOWN @GatorsFB! pic.twitter.com/YqZiwl9Hqc
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NOTES: The Gators outgained Michigan 228-189 in the first half; Franks was 7 of 13 for 100 yards and rushed nine times for a team-high 70 yards ... Moody missed a 52-yard field goal with six seconds left in the first half ... UF freshman defensive back Amari Burney was credited with a pass break-up in the second quarter ... The sack Gators defensive end Jachai Polite was credited with was removed at halftime because after Patterson's fumble the Wolverines gained yards on the play when Turner picked up the fumble and scrambled for a 7-yard gain. However, Polite still gets credit for his sixth forced fumble of the season, which ties UF's single-season record set in 1986 by Clifford Charlton ... Freshman quarterback Emory Jones, who had a special package of plays designed for him in the Peach Bowl, took the first two snaps of the second quarter for the Gators ... When punter Tommy Townsend's punt was blocked, it marked the third consecutive game in Atlanta for the Gators that a Townsend brother's punt was blocked. It happened to Johnny Townsend in 2015 and '16 against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
3RD QUARTER
Florida 20, Michigan 10 (8:06) -- The Gators capitalized after Chauncey Gardner-Johnson's interception gave them the ball inside Michigan's territory. Florida marched 44 yards on six plays, stretching its lead to 10 on a 5-yard scoring pass from Franks to running back Lamical Perine.
QB Shea Patterson intercepté par DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson !
— TBP College Football (@thebluepennant) December 29, 2018
Florida 13, Michigan 10#PeachBowl pic.twitter.com/YZW6ZvXi15
Florida 27, Michigan 10 (2:34) -- Dan Mullen is dialing up some nice plays today. On third-and-goal from Michigan's 1, Franks took the snake, faked a cut up field and then pitched to running back Jordan Scarlett for a touchdown. Scarlett did most of the heavy lifting on Florida's eight-play, 63-drive by carrying four times for 35 yards. Scarlett's best run was a 30-yard gain that included broken tackles and a slashing downfield cut to get to the Wolverines' 3.
What a run by Jordan Scarlett!! #Gators pic.twitter.com/dRpFALRXuY
— #NobodyDied (@ftbeard_17) December 29, 2018
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NOTES: Junior Gardner-Johnson, playing in his final game for the Gators, returned a Patterson interception 53 yards to the Wolverines' 44 as Michigan drove deep into UF territory on its first drive of the second half. Gardner-Johnson had a pair of interceptions in his first bowl game at Florida, a 30-3 win over Iowa in the 2017 Outback Bowl, to earn MVP honors ... Receiver Kadarius Toney gained 30 yards on a jet sweep -- on fourth-and-1 no less -- to help set up Franks' touchdown pass to Perine.
Kadarius Toney 30 yard run off the jet-sweep on 4th down!! pic.twitter.com/GrIlgJtsxt
— #NobodyDied (@ftbeard_17) December 29, 2018
4TH QUARTER
Florida 27, Michigan 13 (12:16) -- The Wolverines refuse to go away and drive 67 yards on 11 plays, settling or a 26-yard field goal by Moody to trim the Gators' lead to within a pair of scores. Moody's kick snapped a streak of 21 unanswered points for the Gators. On third down, official initially ruled Tarik Black caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Patterson. However, replays showed he never had possession and Michigan opted to bring on Moody.
Florida 34, Michigan 13 (9:21) -- Florida may have just sealed this one as Perine goes 53 yards for a touchdown. The Gators have 413 yards of total offense against Michigan's No. 1-ranked defense.
3rd and 20?
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 29, 2018
No problem for Lamical Perine.pic.twitter.com/A4Sn6pzhAb
Florida 34, Michigan 15 (4:58) -- Wolverines block second of punt of game to record a safety on UF's recovery in own end zone.
Florida 41, Michigan 15 (4:43) -- Gardner Johnson picks off his second pass of the game and returns this one 30 yards for a touchdown, putting an exclamation point on UF's first victory over Michigan.
Florida DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
— Football Recruit. (@FootballRecruit) December 29, 2018
Underclassman.
Declared for NFL Draft.
Didn't skip the Peach Bowl.
Has 2 INT (including a pick six).
Florida Gators just beat the brakes off Michigan.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. pic.twitter.com/6FlTCoUtkG
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NOTES: Senior tight end C'yontai Lewis had a 28-yard catch on the scoring drive that ended on Perine's long run.
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Editor's Note: At the conclusion of today's game, check out FloridaGators.com senior writer Chris Harry's "Quick Slant" for instant analysis.
Players Mentioned
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