WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | OWN THIS GAME
By: Scott Crumbly
Twitter: @ScottCrumbly
SEC Digital Network
Box Score
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 11 Florida welcomed No. 3 LSU to the Swamp on Saturday and the Gators (5-0, 4-0 SEC) handed the Tigers their first loss in their last 19 regular season games, 14-6. Mike Gillislee carried the load offensively for the Gators, racking up 146 yards and two touchdowns on the ground against the vaunted LSU defense.
LSU (5-1, 1-1) opened the game with a 10-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a field goal and a 3-0 lead for the Tigers. The rest of the game would belong to the Florida defense, though, which limited LSU to just 139 yards on 44 plays the rest of the way. The Tigers turned the ball over three times and committed eight penalties for 83 yards.
The Gators, who ran the ball 58 times compared to just 12 pass attempts, racked up 176 yards on the ground thank to Gillislee’s big effort and a dominating second half from the UF offensive line. Florida further cemented itself as a second half team after trailing 6-0 at the half only to control the game with the rushing attack. Gillislee scored both of his touchdowns in the second half to seal the win for the Gators.
Jeff Driskel completed two-thirds of his passes for only 61 yards, but he managed the offense well down the stretch. Driskel fumbled after an LSU sack in the second quarter, but the UF defense held the Tigers to a field goal that turned out to be their last points of the game. The sophomore QB picked up a crucial first down late in the game on a scramble to help the Gators run most of the clock out.
Statistical Leaders
Florida
Passing – Jeff Driskel, 8-for-12, 61 yards
Rushing – Mike Gillislee, 34 car, 146 yards, 2 TD
Receiving – Jordan Reed, 3 rec, 30 yards
LSU
Passing – Zach Mettenberger, 11-for-25, 158 yards, INT
Rushing – Spencer Ware, 8 car, 21 yards
Receiving – Odell Beckham, 4 rec, 78 yards
Quick Notes
· Florida’s win over LSU broke the Tigers’ streak of seven straight wins over teams from the SEC’s Eastern Division.
· Saturday’s game marked the fourth time in the series history that each team came in ranked in the top-10.
· Since 1990, Florida is 29-9 coming off a bye week and 9-2 coming off a bye when playing at home.