“I don’t expect to lose.”
This is how McElwain addressed the media when asked about the SEC. McElwain coming in knew his team would not face defeat and with a resounding win Saturday against their rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs. The Gators have pretty much asserted themselves as the dominant team in the SEC East.
This was not just any game. This was a staple game; the Gators won in a blowout fashion in a rivalry matchup that even includes its own Hall of Fame. This also brought the Georgia coach into the hot seat, as Georgia is not nearly as good as they have been in the past. However, that’s no excuse as to why the Gators picked the Bulldogs apart.
The Gator defense was electric. They caused four interceptions, one of them being an interception in their own end zone as Georgia was about to score. To shed even more light on this performance, the Georgia coach, Mark Richt, decided to bench his starting quarterback and choose his third-string quarterback to make his first career start. The thought here was that Bauta would be quick and run the ball, presenting a dual threat to the Gators via the ground and the air, similar to the performance of Dobbs (the Tennessee quarterback who caught both Georgia and Florida off-guard with his dual threat ability).
However, this plan did not pay off. Bauta, as previously mentioned, threw four interceptions and was able to produce only 69 yards on the ground. The actual Bulldog running back, Sony Michel, produced even less than Bauta with 45 yards on the ground. The Bulldog offense was stagnant and was unable to move the ball at all due to the ferociousness of the Gator defense. This is why they are considered one of the best defenses in the SEC.
The game relied heavily on the defense, but to say the Gator offense was inefficient would be an understatement. Kelvin Taylor, the Gator running back, ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns, quite literally tearing through the weak Georgia defense. Treon Harris had a fairly productive game as well, turning to the quick pass as a means of moving the ball down the field. His big play came on a 66-yard touchdown bomb to Antonio Callaway, the clear go-to receiver for this Gator team.
Finally, the Gators special teams produced. Nick Washington managed to score off a muffed punt, after the Georgia receiver called for a fair catch and could not complete the catch. This was the Gator’s first score for the day, coming at the closing seconds of the first quarter, and this is what really electrified the Gators. From that point on, everyone knew the Bulldogs were Gator bait.
Georgia was introduced to what I have deemed “Painesville,” seeing as the Gators are dynamic this season. The defense wreaks havoc to opposing offenses, and the Gator offense seems capable of moving the ball down the field. Next week, the Gators play Vanderbilt, who has struggled this season.
This will be the Homecoming game for the Gators, and with a win, they essentially seal the SEC East and expect to face a rematch against the only team who has defeated them thus far, LSU. So LSU, the Gators are coming for you and you should be worried. It’s a great day to be a Florida Gator, and a scarier day for the next few opponents who are GATOR BAIT as the Gators rise in the AP Polls and seek an SEC Championship appearance.
