FLORIDA 45, MISSISSIPPI STATE 28
WHAT HAPPENED: Florida quarterback Graham Mertz handed for 3 touchdowns, rushed for one more and led the Gators to a 45-28 street victory and first Southeastern Convention win of the 2024 season. Mertz, the sixth-year veteran in his second UF season after transferring from Wisconsin, accomplished 19 of 21 passes (90.5 p.c) for 201 yards, with all three of his TDs coming within the first half to set the tone for a staff — in addition to Coach Billy Napier — in determined want of one thing optimistic following two lopsided house losses in opposition to each its high-major convention opponents earlier this month. UF completed with 503 yards of complete offense (a balanced 226 dashing, 277 by way of the air), besting the host Bulldogs’ 480 (to go along with 31 first downs), with a whopping 240 approaching the bottom. Mertz, who was 15-for-16 for 147 yards within the first half, fired touchdowns of three yards to tight finish Arlis Boardingham, 20 to extensive receiver Marcus Burke and 35 to tight finish Hayden Hansen to stake the Gators to a 21-7 lead early within the second quarter. He shared quarterback duties with true freshman DJ Lagway, who accomplished all seven of his passes for 76 yards and and likewise had a fumble into the top zone that was recovered by offensive lineman Austin Barber. Lagway’s second collection was a 10-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard landing run by Ja’Kobi Jackson and pushed the guests in entrance 28-7 late within the first half. The Bulldogs reduce the margin to 14 when quarterback Blake Shapen (13 of 21 for 140 yards, 1 TD) completed off a fast six-play, 75-yard, 54-second drive with a 3-yard run with 23 seconds to play within the interval to make it 28-14 on the half. The sport acquired even nearer after Shapen engineered one other lengthy scoring drive, capped by a 13-yard move to Jordan Mosley on MSU’s first possession of the second half. Mertz countered with an 8-play, 75-yard drive (aided by a pair defensive penalties) and completed the march with a 1-yard sneak for a 35-21 lead with just below 4 minutes remaining within the third quarter. A goal-line stand by the Florida protection turned the ball again to the Gators lower than a minute into the fourth interval. Lagway then led his second drive of greater than 90 yards (this one 10 performs, 93 yards) and virtually completed it himself with a 6-yard scoring run, with Barber falling on the fumble for a 42-21 lead. The Bulldogs acquired a 10-yard scoring run from Johnnie Daniels with 4:26 to go, whereas the Gators added a 47-yard Trey Smack discipline aim with 2:34 remaining. UF acquired a game-high 68 yards dashing from senior tailback Montrell Johnson Jr. and had 10 completely different receivers haul in passes, led by Aidan Mizell’s 5 for 36 yards. The win was simply the third for Florida in its final 15 street video games and snapped a seven-game streak in opposition to energy convention opponents, courting to Oct. 28, 2023 in opposition to Georgia.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Gators, with the whole lot occurring, badly wanted a victory to cease the bleeding. Mississippi State, clearly, will not be a superb staff, however UF went on the street and amid all of the adversity and distractions put one within the SEC win column.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Whereas Lagway would be the favored Florida quarterback (and the Gators’ future on the place), Mertz is the higher one proper now and offers them the perfect probability to win.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Mertz and Lagway mixed to go 26-for-28. That is 92.9 p.c, which is believed to be a single-game staff document.
UP NEXT: Florida (2-2, 1-1) has the primary of two open dates subsequent weekend. The Gators will return to motion Oct. 5 at house in opposition to cross-state foe UCF (3-0, 1-0), which was idle Saturday. Whereas the Gators might be sitting out the week, the Knights will play host to Deion Sanders and Colorado in a Large 12 Convention recreation. Mississippi State (1-3, 0-1) performs at No. 1 Texas subsequent week. Then at No. 2 Georgia. Good luck, Bulldogs.