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The future is uncertain for Billy Napier and the Florida Gators (1-2) after suffering a 33-20 defeat at the hands of the Texas A&M Aggies (2-1) in The Swamp on Saturday afternoon.

Redshirt freshman Marcel Reed made his debut for Texas A&M in the stead of Connor Weigman, who was sidelined with a sprained AC joint.

Reed utilized his legs on the Aggies’ opening drive to convert a second-and-21 with a 31-yard scramble. Later in the drive, he connected with a wide receiver on a screen pass for a touchdown. However, an illegal block in the back penalty negated the play. The Aggies’ settled for a Randy Bond 31-yard field goal to take an early lead, 3-0.

Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway took the starting role interchangeably on each drive despite Napier naming Mertz the official starter.

Florida’s opening drive started at the 35-yard line after a free kick out of bounds. After quarterback Mertz failed to connect with wide receiver Marcus Burke, punter Jeremy Crawshaw took the field for the first time and sent a knuckleball-like punt inside the Aggies’ ten-yard line.

Florida’s defense struggled on third downs on the opening drive. That continued when Texas A&M got the ball back.

The Aggies’ offense once again drove into Florida territory on its second drive behind a 60% third down conversion rate. Reed found his rhythm and capped off a 9 play, 92-yard drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass over the middle to tight end Theo Melin Ohrstorm. The Aggies extended their lead 10-0 with :18 left in the first quarter.

Lagway entered the game for Florida at the end of the first quarter. Gator fans, however, would have to wait to see him lead a complete drive.

The game entered a lightning delay at 4:34 P.M. shortly after the first quarter concluded. Play resumed at 5:17 P.M. with all 14:47 remaining in the second quarter.

Texas A&M got the ball back at its own 45-yard line. The Aggies’ offense advanced into Florida territory but failed to convert on third down as Jason Marshall Jr. forced an incompletion. Bond made a 48-yard field goal to make it 13-0. 

Florida’s defensive struggles continued. Texas A&M started with poor field position but drove 99 yards for seven minutes behind a relentless rushing attack. Reed pushed his way into the endzone on a quarterback sneak with :52 left in the second quarter. 

The Aggies led 20-0 heading into halftime.

The Gators struggled just as much offensively as they did defensively in the first half. Florida accumulated a mere 73 yards of offense with just seven of those coming on the ground. 

UF started the second half with the football. It needed a statement drive to begin an effort to escape the 20-point deficit.

Mertz, who went 12-15 for 195 yards and a touchdown, opened the drive with a 19-yard pass to wide receiver Chimere Dike. Florida had its best offensive performance of the day as running room opened and receivers gained separation.

An Elijah Badger touchdown reception was negated due to a holding penalty earlier in the drive. Mertz and Badger, though, had the opportunity to reconnect on a play action pass on second-and-goal at the Texas A&M 14-yard line. Mertz found the wide receiver in the left corner of the endzone at 11:49 in the third quarter to cut the Aggies’ lead 20-7. 

However, the Florida defense was unable to follow up. The secondary’s second coverage bust of the day allowed Reed to find wide receiver Cyrus Allen for a 73-yard touchdown. The Aggies’ tried and failed a two-point conversion attempt, making the score 26-7.

The Aggies extended their lead in the third quarter 33-7 with a 45-yard pick-six off a deflected pass intended for Badger. 

Lagway, who reached just 54 yards passing on the day, found Dike in the endzone for a touchdown at 1:04 in the third quarter to make the score 33-14.

The Gators scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter as running back Ja’Kobi Jackson earned a 2-yard score with 5:13 remaining. Texas A&M led 33-20 after Florida failed a two-point conversion attempt.

Florida had the opportunity to make it a one score game with 3:24 remaining after Bond missed his second field goal attempt of the day. Napier elected to put Lagway in the game for the urgent situation instead of Mertz.

The decision didn’t pay off as Lagway threw his second interception of the night.

This loss marks Florida’s seventh straight to FBS teams. The Gators will travel to Starkville, Mississippi for their first away game of the year against Mississippi State next Saturday.