Gators handle UCF with strong game

by Gary Shelton on October 6, 2024

in general

Sunday, 4 a.m.

For a week, the Florida Gators looked like a football team.

Stay tuned.

The Gators, underdogs at home, handled cross-state rival UCF fairly easily Saturday night, winning 24-13. The Gators scored all of their points in the first half and coasted.




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The Gators, however, should enjoy it. The Gators face a murderer’s row where they travel to No. 4 Tennessee (the Vols lost to Arkansas Saturday night), are home against unranked Kentucky, play No. 5 Georgia, No. 2 Texas, No. 13 LSU and No. 12 Ole Miss before finishing up against rival FSU.

It’s a formidable schedule as the Gators try to keep the heat off of coach Billy Napier.

On Saturday night, the Gators rode solid quarterback play to their win. Graham Mertz completed 19 of 23 passes for 179 passes. Backup D.J. Lagway hit all four of his passes for 50 yards.

The Gators’ defense held UCF without a touchdown until eight minutes were left in the game.

Florida is now 3-2 on the season.

Clemson 29, FSU 13: The forgettable season of the FSU Seminoles continued Saturday night. This week, disgruntled fans won’t have quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei to blame for it.

Uiagalelei missed Saturday night’s game  with a broken finger. That left the game in the hands of redshirt freshman Brock Glenn. Glenn completed 23 of 41 passes for 228 yards and two scores, but the Seminoles couldn’t keep up with Clemson. 

Phil Mafah had 136 yards rushing for Clemson.

FSU travels to Duke Saturday at 7 p.m.

FSU had just 22 yards rushing.

M9@mi 39, Cal 38: Magic Cam Ward did it again.

Ward brought Miami jack from a 25-point deficit to keep the Canes unbeaten. Ward threw for 437 yards and two scores, the last a five-yard touchdown to Elijah Arroyo for the winning score with 26 seconds left.

The Cames trailed 35-10 late in the third period before rallying. Ward threw for two scores and ran for another in the fifth quarter.

Xavier Restrepocaught seven passes for 163 yards for Miami.

The Canes travel to Louisville on Saturday.

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