Graphic: Scott MacCord/UAA Communications
Quick Slant: Florida 48, Colorado State 10
Saturday, September 15, 2018 | Football, Chris Harry
THE QUICK SLANT
Florida 48, Colorado State 10
WHAT HAPPENED: The Gators bounced back Saturday from last week's disappointing loss to Kentucky. That the game turned into a rout was a bonus. They did so with contributions from all three phases, with none bigger than those of the UF special teams, most notably an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Freddie Swain that put the game away in the fourth quarter. The UF offense accounted for four touchdowns, the defense forced three turnovers, and special teams also thwarted a pair of punt attempts, one blocked and recovered for a touchdown. Quarterback Feleipe Franks threw incomplete on his first six passes, but had an 18-yard touchdown pass to Swain in the second quarter and 38-yard score to Van Jefferson in the fourth. Tailback Jordan Scarlett had a 30-yard touchdown run that marked UF's first rushing TD by a back this season, but true freshman Dameon Pierce one-upped his upperclassmen with a 68-yard touchdown run with just over six minutes to go. Early in the first half, it was Josh Hammond who got to CSU punter Ryan Stonehouse and forced a fumble that led to the first of Evan McPherson's two field goals, and Amari Burney who blocked a Stonehouse punt in the second quarter that Tyrie Cleveland fell on in the end zone for a 27-0 second-quarter lead. The Rams scored 10 unanswered points, getting a 53-yard field goal by Wyatt Bryan and 48-yard touchdown pass from K.J. Carta-Samuels to tight end Trey McBride, but Swain ripped off his big return -- tying for the fourth-longest in school history -- barely a minute into the final period to make the score 34-10.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Gators just needed a victory, period. Yes, it was Colorado State and a Mountain West opponent, but the Rams came in with a very good offense and put it up against a UF defense that was trampled in last week's loss against Kentucky and came out of that game mentally wounded with its head coach questioning the team's overall toughness. The Gators should feel good about this one for the next day or so, then refocus on everything as they prepare to get back into Southeastern Conference play.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After three seasons of being virtually ignored under the previous coaching staff, Mullen vowed that special teams would not only matter again at Florida, but be treated with an emphasis no different than the offense and defense. The UF coach has kept his word, what with some of his best players woven into the kicking game. In addition to the touchdown return and two huge plays against the CSU punt unit, Swain also had a 22-yard punt return into Rams' territory that set up one of UF's offensive touchdowns in the second quarter.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators were gashed for 303 rushing yards by Kentucky last week. The Rams, not a running team, finished with 70 yards on the ground, with 28 of those coming on a single run late in the fourth period. This is not suggest anything about the UF defense is fixed, but CSU could barely put a dent -- even with 41 attempts -- in a defense that was overpowered in that phase seven days earlier.
UP NEXT: Florida (2-1, 0-1) steps back into SEC play next week when it goes on the road for the first time this season to face Tennessee (2-1, 0-0) in what will be the Volunteers' league opener. UF has defeated UT in 12 of the previous 13 meetings, though the Vols won the last matchup in Knoxville, beating the Gators 38-28 in 2016. Tennessee beat Texas-El Paso 24-0 earlier Saturday. In their previous two games, the Vols defeat East Tennessee 59-3 and lost their opener 40-14 against West Virginia in a game played at Charlotte.
Florida 48, Colorado State 10
WHAT HAPPENED: The Gators bounced back Saturday from last week's disappointing loss to Kentucky. That the game turned into a rout was a bonus. They did so with contributions from all three phases, with none bigger than those of the UF special teams, most notably an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Freddie Swain that put the game away in the fourth quarter. The UF offense accounted for four touchdowns, the defense forced three turnovers, and special teams also thwarted a pair of punt attempts, one blocked and recovered for a touchdown. Quarterback Feleipe Franks threw incomplete on his first six passes, but had an 18-yard touchdown pass to Swain in the second quarter and 38-yard score to Van Jefferson in the fourth. Tailback Jordan Scarlett had a 30-yard touchdown run that marked UF's first rushing TD by a back this season, but true freshman Dameon Pierce one-upped his upperclassmen with a 68-yard touchdown run with just over six minutes to go. Early in the first half, it was Josh Hammond who got to CSU punter Ryan Stonehouse and forced a fumble that led to the first of Evan McPherson's two field goals, and Amari Burney who blocked a Stonehouse punt in the second quarter that Tyrie Cleveland fell on in the end zone for a 27-0 second-quarter lead. The Rams scored 10 unanswered points, getting a 53-yard field goal by Wyatt Bryan and 48-yard touchdown pass from K.J. Carta-Samuels to tight end Trey McBride, but Swain ripped off his big return -- tying for the fourth-longest in school history -- barely a minute into the final period to make the score 34-10.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Gators just needed a victory, period. Yes, it was Colorado State and a Mountain West opponent, but the Rams came in with a very good offense and put it up against a UF defense that was trampled in last week's loss against Kentucky and came out of that game mentally wounded with its head coach questioning the team's overall toughness. The Gators should feel good about this one for the next day or so, then refocus on everything as they prepare to get back into Southeastern Conference play.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After three seasons of being virtually ignored under the previous coaching staff, Mullen vowed that special teams would not only matter again at Florida, but be treated with an emphasis no different than the offense and defense. The UF coach has kept his word, what with some of his best players woven into the kicking game. In addition to the touchdown return and two huge plays against the CSU punt unit, Swain also had a 22-yard punt return into Rams' territory that set up one of UF's offensive touchdowns in the second quarter.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators were gashed for 303 rushing yards by Kentucky last week. The Rams, not a running team, finished with 70 yards on the ground, with 28 of those coming on a single run late in the fourth period. This is not suggest anything about the UF defense is fixed, but CSU could barely put a dent -- even with 41 attempts -- in a defense that was overpowered in that phase seven days earlier.
UP NEXT: Florida (2-1, 0-1) steps back into SEC play next week when it goes on the road for the first time this season to face Tennessee (2-1, 0-0) in what will be the Volunteers' league opener. UF has defeated UT in 12 of the previous 13 meetings, though the Vols won the last matchup in Knoxville, beating the Gators 38-28 in 2016. Tennessee beat Texas-El Paso 24-0 earlier Saturday. In their previous two games, the Vols defeat East Tennessee 59-3 and lost their opener 40-14 against West Virginia in a game played at Charlotte.
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