Florida Gators

THE QUICK SLANT
FLORIDA 24, FLORIDA STATE 21  

WHAT HAPPENED: Backup quarterback Anthony Richardson threw a third-quarter touchdown pass and tailback Dameon Pierce had a fourth-quarter touchdown run, as the Gators put the developments from earlier in the week behind them Saturday to hold off the Seminoles before a sold-out crowd at Spurrier/Florida Field. With the firing Sunday of Coach Dan Mullen, running backs coach/special teams coordinator Greg Knox took the "interim" title and fashioned a victory (a third straight over FSU) for the UF players and Gator Nation to revel in; even if it only meant a .500 record for the season. Richardson, the redshirt freshman, took over in the third quarter after starter Emory Jones threw three interceptions, all in the first half. Jones started the second half, but got hooked in the middle of UF's first series. Richardson went on to complete five of seven passes for 55 yards and a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Shorter, Jones went 16-for-24 for 164 yards, a score and three picks before getting lifted. Pierce had 62 yards rushing on 12 carries for a UF offense that finished with 368 total yards. FSU, meanwhile, played three different quarterbacks because starter Jordan Travis injured his shoulder early on. Travis returned to the game to complete 18 of 29 attempts for 202 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while also rushing 17 times for 102 yards. The Seminoles had 348 yards of total offense. Jones started well enough, firing a 47-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kemore Gamble on the game's opening drive for a 7-0 lead. UF's next three drives went punt, punt, pick, pick, pick. The second interception set up the Seminoles' tying touchdown (a 9-yard scoring run by Travis), while the third was an end-zone pick (on a first-and-goal from the Florida State 9) with 25 seconds to go in the first half and a chance to take a lead into the locker room. Instead, the teams began the second half knotted at 7-all. Richardson replaced Jones midway through UF's first drive of the third quarter, with Chris Howard finishing it with 36-yard field goal four minutes in to put the Gators up 10-7. Midway through the period, UF punter Jeremy Crawshaw boomed a 60-yard from his end zone that FSU return man Ontaria Wilson misplayed and muffed, with UF's Xzavier Henderson recovering at the Florida State 33. The flip of the field led to a 5-yard touchdown pass from Richardson to Shorter and 17-7 lead with 2:09 left in the third. An interception by freshman UF cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. late in the third quarter set up a 10-play, 68-yard drive during which Pierce finished with a 3-yard scoring run on fourth-and-goal that put Florida ahead by 17 with 12:36 to go. Seminoles tailback Treshaun Ward made it 24-14 with a 19-yard touchdown run with 9:46 left. A failed third-and-2 run by Richardson forced the Gators to punt the ball away with 3:55 to go, pinning the Seminoles at their 8. FSU, though, drove 92 yards over 16 plays, with Travis hitting Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds left. That left matters to the ensuing onside kick. And, well, FSU's Ryan Fitzgerald swung and barely missed the ball, which fell off the tee and traveled a couple inches, where it was picked up by a Seminole, resulting in an illegal touching penalty that awarded the ball to the Gators.  WHAT IT MEANS: The Gators (6-6) have a third straight win over the Seminoles (5-7), which the orange-and-blue fan base will surely appreciate. Florida, by finishing with a break-even mark, is now bowl eligible, while eliminating FSU from bowl consideration. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Early in the fourth quarter, Pierce had his helmet ripped off while fighting for extra yards inside the FSU 5-yard line. Pierce, helmet-less, stayed upright and proceeded to stick his head between two would-be FSU tacklers and pile-drive for a touchdown. The play, though, was nullified because, by rule, once a ball-carrier loses his helmet he has to give himself up. Pierce didn't (shades of Earl Everett, pre-rule) and UF was penalized 15 yards from the point of infraction. Pierce would not be denied. The senior from Bainbridge, Ga., scored four plays later on fourth-and-3 to push UF up three scores in the fourth quarter.   

STAGGERING STATISTIC: There were 22 penalties called. Florida was flagged 13 times for 107 yards. Florida State was hit nine times for 89 yards. There were numerous offsetting personal and unsportsmanlike conduct infractions that didn't show up in the box score. The totality of the number of flags thrown did not speak well to the discipline of either team, even in a heated rivalry game. 

UP NEXT: Now, we wait for the next news cycle; as in a potential bowl berth ... oh, yes, and a new coach.