ChompTalk.com

The annual Florida Football Orange and Blue game took place Saturday afternoon, and it absolutely lived up to the hype.

The bout between the Orange and Blue teams was a back-and-forth battle, but Blue prevailed 19-17 behind the leg of junior kicker Trey Smack and the arm of redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz.

Orange were given a 3 point advantage as the game began, and all eyes were on their signal caller, five-star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

Lagway shined in the matchup, completing 12 of his 21 pass attempts for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also threw 1 interception.

The freshman led Orange to a 17-13 halftime lead, but Orange redshirt junior kicker Hunter Smith missed two potential go-ahead field goals, allowing Blue to ride Smack’s three made kicks to the victory.

Meanwhile, Mertz performed well, going 15-27 with 243 yards and a touchdown, as well as an interception.

Mertz showcased his chemistry with sophomore wide receiver Eugene “Tre” Wilson III, who had 8 catches for 128 yards, which included a 60-yard touchdown.

The Blue defense also shined with 6 total sacks. Junior defensive end Quincy Ivory and redshirt junior defensive end George Gumbs Jr. both had 1.5 sacks in the matchup.

Both sides also had interceptions. Mertz was picked off by sophomore defensive back Sharif Denson, while redshirt senior linebacker Reggie Nunnery baited Lagway to intercept him.

Overall, the matchup showcased how Billy Napier’s Gators have a bright future, and they will now focus on the 2024 season that kicks off with a rivalry matchup against the University of Miami.