What we learned: Florida rights ship in The Swamp with complete rout of UAB

By Adam Silverstein
November 18, 2017
What we learned: Florida rights ship in The Swamp with complete rout of UAB
Football

Image Credit: @GatorsFB/Twitter

After more than a month of being beaten and embarrassed — mostly away from home — the Florida Gators righted the ship during cupcake week by blasting the UAB Blazers 36-7 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. The victory ended a five-game losing streak for UF and ensured it did not win fewer than four games in a season for the first time since 1979.

OnlyGators.com breaks down Florida’s win below.


It was over when: Redshirt junior kicker Eddy Pineiro blasted a 50-yard field goal to put the Gators up 19-0 entering the half. Pineiro was 5-for-5 on field goals Saturday with two 50-yard makes before the break and four triples of 39 yards or longer. Florida was unable to clean up some drives early in the game, but Pineiro ensured it got points on the board and was in a position to take out UAB later in the game.

Exceptional efforts: Most of the team, actually. Two weeks after appearing to completely mail in a road game at Missouri, Florida gave a complete effort from whistle to whistle. The Gators’ tight ends stepped up with two touchdown receptions, their running backs carried 42 times for 240 yards and a touchdown, and the defense held the Blazers to just a single big play (a 74-yard touchdown catch) on the day. In fact, UAB only had 40 total yards late in the third quarter.

Sophomore running back Lamichal Perine stood out with 86 yards and a touchdown, but redshirt senior Mark Thompson and freshman Adarius Lemons really impressed with a combined 157 yards on 23 touches.

Important injury: Freshman athlete Kadarius Toney took a helmet to the knee on a direct snap early in the first quarter and did not return. Other Florida players were hurt during the game but most returned to the field. Toney has been in and out of action all season due to injuries, which is to somewhat be expected due to his size but not a good look for UF’s offensive efficiency.

Odds and ends: Florida entered the game 12th in the SEC in turnovers created but had four (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries) on Saturday … UF improved to 18-0 all-time against Conference USA opponents in The Swamp …

What it means / up next: Not much in the grand scheme of things as it does not help the Gators become bowl eligible. Florida paid $1.5 million for UAB to travel to Gainesville and get its butt whipped, and that’s exactly what happened on Saturday. It should give UF some confidence as it heads into its season finale against Florida State next week. FSU rescheduled a Hurricane Irma-cancelled game in order to become bowl eligible this season, but Florida can put a stop to that with a win next Saturday in The Swamp.

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