GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It began with arguably Tennessee‘s easiest offensive power of the season, however no longer a lot else went proper for the Vols on Saturday evening.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium remained a space of horrors for No. 11 Tennessee. A 5-point underdog at house, Florida rushed for greater than 175 yards and jumped out to a large lead on its solution to a 29-16 disillusioned.
The loss prolonged The Vols’ highway shedding streak to the Gators to ten video games.
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Tennessee (2-1, 0-1 SEC) struggled to take care of its first quarter momentum, which was once hindered by means of neglected tackles, consequences and an abysmal efficiency from the offensive line.
Quarterback Joe Milton III completed 20-of-34 passing for 287 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Tennessee was once held to 106 yards at the floor.
Florida (2-1, 1-0) quarterback Graham Mertz was once 19-of-24 for 166 yards and a rating and operating again Trevor Eitenne ran for 172 yards and a landing.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Florida moved the ball on its opening power, changing on 3rd down 3 times and attaining the Tennessee 23-yard line however two tackles for loss from Aaron Beasley and Gabe Jeudy-Lally pressured the Gators to aim a 46-yard box function that fell brief and left them empty-handed.
Tennessee put in combination a textbook power. The Vols went 71 yards in two mins, together with a 41-yard go from Milton to Squirrel White. Ramel Keyton hauled in an 11-yard toss from Milton in spite of everything zone at the subsequent play to offer Tennessee a 7-0 lead.
Florida responded with a handy guide a rough power of its personal. On first down, Trevor Eitenne busted in the course of the Vols’ protection for a 62-yard landing run however the resulting further level was once blocked to stay Tennessee in entrance, 7-6.
After Tennessee’s 2nd power stalled out, Florida put in combination an extended, methodical power that fed on 14 mins of clock. It was once capped by means of a Montrell Johnson Jr. run to place the Gators forward, 12-7 however the two-point take a look at failed.
Florida added to its lead off of Milton’s first Tennessee profession interception. The go back set the Gators up with a brief box within the 10 and Mertz scored on a keeper up the center to make it 19-7.
Mertz have shyed away from a sack and located Johnson for his 2nd landing, an 18-yard catch and run to swell Florida’s result in 26-7 simply prior to halftime.
Tennessee drove so far as some distance because the Gators’ 25 on its first power of the 3rd quarter however settled for a Charles Campbell 42-yard box function to chop its deficit to 26-10. Florida’s offense stalled for far of the quarter, however the Vols did not convert on fourth down two times.
Florida endured to empty the clock, striking in combination five-plus minute power within the 10 and a Trey Smack box function prolonged its benefit to 29-10 with not up to 10 mins left.
Milton supplied some past due momentum with a 55-yard landing go to Bru McCoy that pulled Tennessee inside 29-16 however Milton was once run out of bounds at the two-point try.
PLAYS OF THE GAME
Tennessee’s opening trek down box was once the nearest the resemblance to ultimate season’s offense up to now in 2023.
White ran open down the sideline for a primary down and Milton connected up with Keyton for the second one time in as many weeks for the go-ahead landing for what gave the impression of an early observation, however the Vols struggled to copy that luck the remainder of the best way.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Omarr Norman-Lott made an affect on particular groups, blockading Florida’s box function on its first power and pulling down an additional level preserved Tennessee’s lead in short.
Two Tennessee extensive receivers scored in Keyton and McCoy. It was once the primary landing of the season for McCoy and helped the Vols lower into Florida’s lead past due. Dont’e Thornton Jr. made essentially the most of his goals in the second one part. He completed with 3 catches for 53 yards.
Campbell was once 3-of-3 kicking in Tennessee’s 30-13 win vs. Austin Peay ultimate week and endured to turn consistency along with his 42-yard first part boot in a difficult highway atmosphere.
UP NEXT
Tennessee returns to Neyland Stadium for its 3rd non-conference recreation towards UTSA.
The Roadrunners received 11 video games ultimate season however are off to a 1-2 get started, falling to Military in its ultimate time out.
Kickoff is about for 4 p.m. ET on SEC Community.
