Final
Gators use big second half to down Volunteers
Sep 16, 2012 - 3:48 AM Knoxville, TN (Sports Network) - Jeff Driskel threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for 81 yards, leading the 18th-ranked Florida Gators past No. 23 Tennessee, 37-20.In back-to-back weeks, the Gators (3-0, 2-0 SEC) won on the road against a conference opponent, beating Texas A&M last Saturday. Trey Burton added two scores on 91 yards for Florida on just three carries. Mike Gillislee ran for 115 yards, as the Gators beat the Volunteers for the eighth straight time.
Tennessee (2-1, 0-1) led the Gators at halftime 14-10, but after missing an extra point off a one-yard touchdown score to give them a 20-13 lead, the Volunteers gave up 24 unanswered points.
"We have put a tremendous emphasis on winning the fourth quarter and winning the second half and wearing down our opponent," said Gators coach Will Muschamp. "That's something that we've been able to do in the first three games. Again, that's something that our kids have bought into."
Tyler Bray struggled in the second half after throwing two touchdowns through the first two quarters. He finished 22-of-44 for 257 yards and threw two interceptions that Florida converted touchdowns.
"We're good, we're moving, we're tempo-ing, we're getting first downs," said Tennessee coach Derek Dooley, "And we just hit a bad stretch at the wrong time."
Jordan Reed caught a team-high five passes for 60 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown grab that gave Florida the go-ahead score. With just under 10 minutes to play in the game, Driskel connected with Frankie Hammond Jr. on a 75-yard catch and run touchdown to give Florida a 14-point advantage.
Caleb Sturgis was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts for the Gators, connecting on kicks of 20, 25 and 49 yards.
The Gators scored the first points of the game after Lerentee McCray intercepted Bray and returned it 25 yards to the Vols' 35. On the third play of the drive, Burton scurried into the end zone from 14 yards out.
After forcing the Gators to go three and out on their next possession, Bray led a 60-yard scoring drive in three plays. After connecting with Justin Hunter on 42-yard strike, Bray hit Cordarrelle Patterson on a 2-yard slant pattern for a touchdown.
On Tennessee's following possession, Bray connected with Patterson on a 4th- and-9 to give the Volunteers a first down on the Florida 18. Four plays later, Bray connected with Mychal Rivera for a 6-yard touchdown to give the Vols a 14-7 lead.
Florida scored two field goals, one on its last possession of the half and another on its first possession of the second half.
Bray led a 12-play, 81 yard scoring drive on Tennessee's first possession of the third, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by middle linebacker A.J. Johnson. However, place kicker Derrick Brodus missed the PAT, which only gave Tennessee a seven point lead.
The Vols were forced three and out on their following possession, and on the Gators' first play from scrimmage, Burton took the handoff 80 yards for a touchdown.
Game Notes
Saturday's matchup was the first time since 2007 that both schools came into the meeting ranked .... Florida has only lost one game in the state of Tennessee since 2000 ... Florida outgained Tennessee in total yards 555 to 340.
- FLORIDA: 37
TENNESSEE: 20
Final
Sep 15 9:42 PM - FLORIDA: 37
TENNESSEE: 20
End of Regulation
Sep 15 9:42 PM - Florida Field Goal - 49-yarder by Caleb Sturgis.
Florida(18) 37, Tennessee(23) 20 4th - 6:44Sep 15 9:29 PM - Robin Go gators. Gator rugby spports ou all the way
Florida(18) 34, Tennessee(23) 20 4th - 7:25Sep 15 9:27 PM - Florida Touchdown - Jeff Driskel pass to Frankie Hammond Jr for 75 yards.
Florida(18) 33, Tennessee(23) 20 4th - 9:55Sep 15 9:18 PM - 77
roots - 82
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Close Finish, Ranked Teams)
Florida(18) 27, Tennessee(23) 20 4th - 11:40Sep 15 9:10 PM - FLORIDA: 27
TENNESSEE: 20
End of 3rd
Sep 15 8:54 PM - Florida Touchdown - Jeff Driskel pass to Jordan Reed for 23 yards.
Florida(18) 26, Tennessee(23) 20 3rd - 0:30Sep 15 8:51 PM - 67
roots - Florida Touchdown - Trey Burton rushed for 80 yards.
Florida(18) 19, Tennessee(23) 20 3rd - 3:15Sep 15 8:42 PM - 53
rootsRUWTbot Added 12 roots (Upset, Ranked Teams)
Florida(18) 19, Tennessee(23) 20 3rd - 3:15Sep 15 8:42 PM - Tennessee Touchdown - A.J. Johnson rushed for 1 yard.
Florida(18) 13, Tennessee(23) 20 3rd - 7:33Sep 15 8:27 PM - FLORIDA: 13
TENNESSEE: 14
3rd Quarter - 11:48
Florida(18) 13, Tennessee(23) 14 3rd - 11:48Sep 15 8:17 PM - 41
rootsRUWTbot Added 9 roots (Upset, Ranked Teams)
Florida(18) 13, Tennessee(23) 14 3rd - 11:48Sep 15 8:17 PM - FLORIDA: 10
TENNESSEE: 14
Halftime
Sep 15 7:44 PM - Tennessee Touchdown - Tyler Bray pass to Mychal Rivera for 6 yards.
Florida(18) 7, Tennessee(23) 13 2nd - 8:40Sep 15 7:17 PM - 32
rootsRUWTbot Took away 13 roots (Upset, Ranked Teams)
Florida(18) 7, Tennessee(23) 13 2nd - 8:40Sep 15 7:17 PM - FLORIDA: 7
TENNESSEE: 7
End of 1st
Sep 15 6:50 PM - Tennessee Touchdown - Tyler Bray pass to Cordarrelle Patterson for 2 yards.
Florida(18) 7, Tennessee(23) 6 1st - 3:02Sep 15 6:40 PM - Florida Touchdown - Trey Burton rushed for 14 yards.
Florida(18) 6, Tennessee(23) 0 1st - 7:52Sep 15 6:25 PM - FLORIDA: 0
TENNESSEE: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Sep 15 6:07 PM
Related News
- A closer look at the players Tennessee football signed via the transfer portal... so far Dec 25
- Tennessee Vols promoting new signees in a very interesting way Dec 23
- Bowl Game Tracker Dec 23
- Tennessee lands former Tulane WR Chris Brazzell Dec 21
- Early Signing Period: Tracking all of Tennessee’s signees Dec 20
- Tennessee lands transfer commitment from Oregon State CB Jermod McCoy Dec 20
- Monday Musings: A big week for the Big Orange Dec 18
- JUCO DL Jamal Wallace commits to Tennessee Dec 17
- Tennessee lands transfer commitment from MTSU safety Jakobe Thomas Dec 17
- Jaylen Wright declares for 2024 NFL Draft Dec 16
- PORTAL NEWS: Tennessee lands No. 1 transfer portal TE Holden Staes Dec 16
- Vols will face familiar nemeses during biggest week of 2024 season Dec 15