ChompTalk.com

Atlanta, GA – Coming into Sunday’s SEC Championship game, most considered Alabama heavy favorites. This narrative was born from several weeks of Florida sleepwalking through easy wins. However, the narrative really gained traction after last week’s devastating and inexcusable loss to LSU. Although I predicted that the Gators would beat the spread, even I was wrong about how closely Florida would play Alabama.

For most of the season, I stated my belief that the Gators matched up better with the Crimson Tide than all but perhaps one other team. Following what felt like a bit of a regression, I lost hope. I felt as though this year’s SEC Championship matchup would resemble the 2016. It was a feeling that we probably didn’t really belong on the field with Alabama.

Well, I was very wrong. Even though there were many miscues, this team never quit and, in the end, they went toe-to-toe with the best team in the country. Even Florida’s defense, which has been a bit of a liability this season, managed to make several stops during the second half. Truth be told, they played fairly well considering they were facing an offense that featured three different Heisman candidates.

In the end, the trio of Mac Jones, Najee Harris, and DeVonta Smith was too much for the Gators defense. Jones completed 33 of 43 pass attempts for 418 yards, 5 touchdowns, and an interception. Smith lived up to his billing, recording 15 catches for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But it might have been Harris that truly stole the show on Alabama’s offense.

Whether it was on the ground or through the air, Harris made plays all night long. On the night, Harris had 31 carries for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But he was just as effective in the passing game. Harris hauled in 5 catches for 67 yards and 3 touchdowns, including one with just six seconds remaining before the half. This was a clutch score for the Tide in response to a beautiful 4-play 75-yard touchdown drive by the Gators. The touchdown extended the Alabama lead and allowed them to take a 35-17 lead at the half.

Florida responded the way any championship caliber team should. Coming out of the break, Kyle Trask capped off another four-play 75-yard drive with a 50-yard dime to Trevon Grimes. This appeared to have sparked the defense because they held Alabama to just 98 yards in the third quarter. Additionally, they provided the offense with the third quarter shutout that they needed in order to bridge the gap. Kyle Trask, in turn, led the offense on a 12-play 80-yard touchdown drive in which he rushed the ball four times.

All told, Trask ran the ball 15 times. He scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion with his legs. But, as usual, it was his arm talent that kept things moving. The Heisman hopeful completed 26 of 40 attempts for 408 yards and 3 touchdowns. While he “only” completed passes to six receivers, Trask found his most lethal targets time and again.

Once again, Kadarius Toney was electrifying and the Alabama defense had no answers for him. The senior receiver had 8 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. When he wasn’t hauling in passes, he was still frustrating the defense by working through a variety of motions, forcing them to show their hand, and lining up all over the field. Likewise, Kyle Pitts was a matchup nightmare for the Tide. He completed the night with 7 receptions for 129 yards and a beautiful highpoint touchdown reception in double coverage. Senior wideout Trevon Grimes also recorded 4 catches and a touchdown on 78 yards.

Despite giving up 605 yards, the defense had a couple of standout performers. Mohamoud Diabate and Amari Burney each recorded 10 tackles. It seemed like Diabate was in on just about every play, even when he wasn’t the one making the tackle.

By the end of the third quarter, Florida had pulled within four points. Trailing 35-31, the defense was exhausted from a near perfect execution of Alabama’s first-half game plan. As a result, they allowed the Tide to put together a 10-play 75-yard drive that culminated in a Najee Harris touchdown. After recovering a Kyle Trask fumble on the ensuing drive, Alabama was forced to settle for a field goal, giving them a 45-31 advantage.

The Gators weren’t going away, though. They responded with a 9-play touchdown drive to make it a one score game. But the comeback wasn’t going to be that easy. DeVonta Smith hauled in a 15-yard touchdown to make it 52-38 with just under five minutes remaining. Trask once again marched the offense 75 yards down the field for another touchdown.

Knowing that his team was gassed, Dan Mullen decided to go for the two-point conversion. Florida had the nation’s longest streak of failed two-point attempts with 11 straight. After Daniel Wright picked off the pass intended for Kyle Pitts, it looked as though that streak had grown to 12 consecutive failed attempts. However, there was a pass interference penalty that gave the Gators a second chance. This time, Trask took it in, himself. With the Gators down by six, they had to attempt the onside kick.

When the onside kick attempt was recovered by Alabama, it seemed as though that would be the end of Florida’s comeback hopes. However, the defense stuffed Najee Harris on three consecutive plays, forcing the punt. Florida had sixteen seconds and no timeouts to move the ball 93 yards. With all of Gator Nation holding their collective breath and hoping for a miracle finish, Christian Harris sacked Kyle Trask to end the game.

Florida came up just short. But they gave the best team in the nation all that they could handle. The Gators may not have achieved their season goals, but a 52-46 loss to the undefeated and No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide shows that they are much closer to being a legitimate national championship contender than we may have thought after last week’s loss. Even though they didn’t win, Florida can hold their heads up high, knowing that they left it all on the field.