GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A quarterback's first career start is always a learning experience.
For Gators quarterback
Max Brown, his starting debut was amplified as he faced off against the undefeated Florida State Seminoles in front of 90,341 fans.
Brown and the Gators fell short despite a gritty performance, losing 24-15 on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators leaned heavily on the run with Brown under center, resulting in 44 rush attempts for 146 yards.
A redshirt freshman from Tulsa, Okla., Brown finished 9-for-16 passing for 86 yards and one interception.
The 16 pass attempts were a season-low for the Gators, who took more of a conservative avenue with their offensive play-calling.
"There's no question we'll be able to look back at this thing and say, 'Hey, maybe we should have taken a different approach,' " said head coach
Billy Napier. "Obviously, the environment was a factor."
At first, it seemed the gameplan was right on target. The Gators ultimately used an effective ground attack to go up 12-0.
However, the Gators were set back by several negative plays, including an attempted trick play, which resulted in an intentional grounding penalty on Brown that stalled a drive that started in plus-territory.
"I think there's a few plays in that first half especially that ultimately, I in particular, have to be able to clean up," said Brown.
In the second half, the gameplan went awry as Brown could not withstand the pressure of FSU's defensive front, literally and figuratively.
The Seminoles' stout defense sacked Brown six times, four of which came in the game's final quarter.
The six sacks were the most allowed by the Gators this season, and Brown took responsibility for his shortcomings.
"I need to do a better job with protections and putting my teammates in a better situation to make plays," said Brown. "Ultimately, that comes down to me and my decision-making."
Early in the game, Brown found true freshman wideout
Eugene Wilson III multiple times for significant gains. However, the Seminoles adjusted quickly, completely shutting down Wilson III in the second half.
Brown was also unable to connect consistently with Gators' leading receiver
Ricky Pearsall, who only had one grab for 17 yards on two targets. Pearsall ended his senior campaign with 965 yards on 65 receptions, falling 35 yards short of becoming the Gators' first 1000-yard receiver since Taylor Jacobs in 2002.
The Gators' offensive struggles in the second half helped the Seminoles gain momentum, and FSU's offense started rolling behind the legs of running back Trey Benson, who scored all three of Florida State's touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the Gators were consistently forced to punt or attempt field-goal tries, of which kicker
Trey Smack only converted two of his four attempts.
"Going out and getting six, seven points instead of three ultimately changes the outcome of the game," said Brown.
With time quickly running out, Brown threw the game-sealing interception straight into the hands of Seminoles linebacker Kalen DeLoach on a 4th-and-20.
Despite his abysmal second half, Napier praised the young quarterback for his unwavering effort and attitude.
"Look, Max, I think he did his part," said Napier. "There's a handful of plays he'd like to have back, and there are things that we can do better."
With the offseason just days away and changes on the horizon, Brown is focused on what he believes to be a bright future for the Gators.
"I think being able to go into this offseason knowing that the future is the group of guys in this program," said Brown. "It's us."
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