GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Five Florida Gators are headed to Glendale, Arizona for Super Bowl LVII.
Gators Carlos Dunlap, Kadarius Toney, Tommy Townsend and the Kansas City Chiefs are set to face Fred Johnson, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and the Philadelphia Eagles on the biggest stage in sports.
Defensive Highlights
Carlos Dunlap has spent 13 years in the league. He had never made the Super Bowl. Until Sunday.
The 2-time Pro Bowler won his first conference championship game against his long-time former team, Cincinnati, who he had spent over a decade with.
But Dunlap didn't stand idly by as his younger teammates made plays. The veteran showed he's still young, helping make a game-changing play.
Up 10 late in the first half with the Bengals needing a drive, Dunlap brought the heat to ensure they couldn't inch closer.
Dunlap bull rushed his way into the backfield, getting in Burrow's face to force an errant throw and a huge interception.
Over in Philadelphia, C.J. Gardner-Johnson showed why he was one of the league's biggest offseason acquisitions.
With San Francisco down two scores in half two, needing a drive to get back in the game, Gardner-Johnson said, "not today."
The fourth-year safety made a huge open-field tackle on one of the league's best backs Christian McCaffrey.
After spending three years in New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson will play in his first career Super Bowl in two weeks. He'll look to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Philadelphia as a key piece of the Eagles' stingy defense.
Special Teams Highlights
Of the four Gators headed to the big game, only one has been there before.
And he's the league's best at his position.
Chief's punter Tommy Townsend, a first-team All-Pro selection this year, had another huge game Sunday, pinning Cincinnati inside their own 20 an astounding three times.
In a grind-it-out game like the one in KC Sunday, field position is key to winning. And Townsend helped the Chiefs' win that battle.
Late in the first half, with Kansas City up 10, Townsend made a drive difficult for the Bengals, angling his punt perfectly to the sideline where it flew out at the four yard line.
But Townsend wasn't done. He did it again.
This time, in crunch time.
Two and half minutes to go.
Game tied.
Pinning Cincy deep, and a potentially game-winning drive gets that much tougher. Townsend once again answered the call.
The big-punt led to a Bengals punt, allowing Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to kick a game-winning field goal and head back to the Super Bowl.
And now Townsend, a team captain for the playoffs, will head to his second career Super Bowl where he'll try to punt his way to his first Super Bowl ring.
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 20 - Kansas City 23)
95 -
Zachary Carter - DL - Rookie (Started at defensive tackle, recorded three tackles)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 2nd year (2-for-2 on extra points, 2-for-2 on field goals connecting from 23 and 30 yards away)
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 23 - Cincinnati 20)
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 13th year (Recorded two QB hits)
19 - Kadarius Toney - WR - 2nd year (Started at wide receiver, caught one pass for nine yards and returned one punt for 12 yards)
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - 3rd year (Punted four times for a 37.8-yard average, pinning Cincinnati inside the 20 three times)
Philadelphia Eagles (Philadelphia 31 - San Francisco 7)
23 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 4th year (Started at safety, recorded five tackles)
50 - Fred Johnson – OT – 4th year (Practice Squad)
San Francisco 49ers (San Francisco 7 - Philadelphia 31)
28 - Janoris Jenkins - CB - 11th year (Appeared at cornerback)
