FINAL: FLORIDA STATE 31, FLORIDA 13
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | FINAL | |
| FLORIDA | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | X | 13 |
| FSU | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | X | 31 |
TALLAHASSEE, FL- The Florida Gators entered Saturday’s game against Florida with playoff prayers. A win over Florida State and an SEC Championship game victory against Alabama may have been enough to put Florida in the playoff conversation.
Those dreams ended Saturday. Florida once again managed no offense. Florida’s defense did enough to win the game until becoming gassed in the fourth quarter.
Florida QB Austin Appleby was under duress all game as the Seminoles constantly had defenders in the back field. Appleby finished the day 19-35 for 149 yards. Despite the pressure Appleby held on to the ball too long. Two plays in particular, Appleby held the ball for eight seconds, and ten seconds before taking a sack rather than throwing the ball away.
The Gators ground game never got going either. Florida State played with eight in the box the entire game, daring Florida to run it since they were unable to throw the ball. Jordan Scarlett finished with 53 yards on 14 carries.
Marcell Harris led Florida on defense with eleven tackles. Florida very rarely put pressure on FSU QB Deondre Francois, resulting in zero sacks on 26 drop backs. Harris recovered a fumble and returned it twelve yards for Florida’s only touchdown.
Florida State pounded the football, Heisman candidate Dalvin Cook rushed for 153 yards on 26 carries.
SCORING RECAP:
- 1st Quarter: D. Cook 28 yard run (Aguayo kick)
- 2nd Quarter: R. Aguayo 22 yard FG
- 2nd Quarter: E. Pineiro 38 yard FG
- 3rd Quarter: E. Pineiro 41 yard FG
- 3rd Quarter: D. Francois pass to T. Rudolph 46 yards (Tyler kick)
- 4th Quarter: F. Stevenson 27 yard run (Tyler kick)
- 4th Quarter: M. Harris 12 yard fumble return (Pineiro kick)
- 4th Quarter: D. Francois 8 yard run (Tyler kick)
PASSING LEADERS:
| FLORIDA | FSU |
| Appleby: 19/35 149 yards | Francois: 15/26, 138 yards, TD, INT |
RUSHING LEADERS:
| FLORIDA | FSU |
| Scarlett: 14 carries, 53 yards | Cook: 26 carries, 153 yards, TD |
| Callaway: 1 carry, 24 yards | Francois: 9 carries, 63 yards, TD |
RECEIVING LEADERS:
| FLORIDA | FSU |
| Callaway: 6 receptions, 58 yards | Rudolph: 4 receptions, 63 yards, TD |
| Perine: 2 receptions, 26 yards | Cook: 3 receptions, 26 yards |
| Cleveland: 2 receptions, 19 yards | Tate: 2 receptions, 22 yards |
TEAM STATS:
| FLORIDA | FSU | |
| FIRST DOWNS | 14 | 18 |
| TOTAL PLAYS | 64 | 66 |
| TOTAL YARDS | 205 | 387 |
| PASS YARDS | 149 | 138 |
| RUSHING YARDS | 56 | 249 |
| TURNOVERS | 2 | 3 |
| PENALTIES | 4-44 | 3-35 |
| TIME OF POSSESSION | 27:59 | 32:01 |
WHAT’S NEXT:
FLORIDA GATORS VS ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
DECEMBER 3, 2016 at 3:30 PM
GEORGIA DOME
COMING THIS WEEK ON THE GATOR CHOMP BLOG:
– An opinion piece about the state of Florida’s coaching staff, and changes that are necessary.
-Sights and sounds from Atlanta as THE GATOR CHOMP BLOG will be on site for the SEC Championship Game.
-We will continue to keep you updated on key injuries.