Gators swamp FGCU hockey in second-half of 70-50 win

(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack). The Gators are banged up, especially on the defensive line, the offense is coming off a putrid performance against FAU, the line can’t protect, Treon Harris is stone cold and Dalvin Cook is running red hot.

But what Florida State did manage to do was expose the flaws in the Gators’ offense. Their fans lingered in the stands.

A win against FSU would help silence Florida’s critics and would keep alive the Gators’ increasingly slim hopes of earning a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. 3 Ole Miss, which may have been the most inflated non-preseason ranking of 2015.

The ball bounced crazily into the end zone and was almost recovered by Florida for a touchdown, but eventually Maguire chased it down to limit UF to the two points.

“They’re one of the more patient and tactically gifted teams that we’ve come across in many years of NCAA tournament play, so today I simply tip my hat to and say that we wish them all the best as they go forward try to repeat as National Champions”. The Gators have not played well recently, but need momentum if they plan on heading into the SEC Championship with something good going while Florida State is looking to prove they are still contenders.

Sharp and aggressive early on, FGCU sent alarm through the home crowd holding the lead late in the first half before ultimately succumbing to the Gators 70-50 in the O’Connell Center. The Seminoles padded the lead in the third quarter, getting a 51-yard field goal from Aguayo.

He was inaccurate and indecisive for the fourth consecutive week.

But he made perhaps the play of the night, scrambling right on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line and threading a pass between two UF defenders to find Jeremy Kerr for a touchdown.

Expected to be out, sack leader Alex McCalister (foot), as well as back-up tackle Taven Bryan (ankle), also are doubtful.

“(Special teams) was tremendous in the game, and we knew it would be”, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said.

“Quarterback run has hurt these guys if you look at it”, McElwain said, noting Alabama losses to Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Ohio State.

Due to Florida State’s slew of recent success, Florida’s new coach, Jim McElwain commented, via 247Sports that “I’m sure they probably feel like they’ll jump in The Swamp and have a pretty good chance of beating us based on how we’ve been playing”.

It’s possible that we may have seen the last of Florida wide receiver Demarcus Robinson in a Gators uniform.

The Gators announced the suspension about 75 minutes before kickoff.

On FSU’s next drive, buoyed by Cook’s 21-yard run and a 45-yard completion from Maguire to Kermit Whitfield, the Seminoles went up 10-0 on the Maguire-to-Kerr connection. The junior from Fort Valley, Georgia, has talent, but has been benched and/or demoted twice this season and suspended twice as a freshman and for the 2014 season opener against Idaho, a game that was canceled because of thunderstorms.

Both teams’ SOS is similar but a closer looks shows Florida has been far more challenged against upper-tier competition and fared extremely well in those games.

“No. Nope”, McElwain said.

Hardin also missed a 51-yard attempt at the end of the first half.

The Gators defense must stop Florida State’s top rusher Dalvin Cook. Smith lead rushing. He had 39 yards, 13 carries, one touchdown.

Maguire completed 14 of 28 passes for 160 yards.