No. 11 Florida gets shot at SEC East, redemption vs. Vandy

“It definitely was an ugly game, and I don’t want to see that happen again”. He put it through the uprights. “J.D.is just running right there with him”.

Florida faked a field goal at the beginning of the second quarter, and CeCe Jefferson got the yardage needed to keep the drive going, but he fumbled and the Commodores pounced on it. “… Sometimes there are games like this and champions figure out ways to win them, and these guys are the SEC East champs”.

With only one more brief practice between now and Saturday’s game, McElwain said the Gators have had a positive week on the practice field and in the meeting and film rooms.

McElwain said Ivey and Sharpe practiced on Wednesday, but they were held out during certain periods.

McElwain said the line’s depth also could get a boost from the true freshmen who have not played this season – Nick Buchanan, Richerd Desir-Jones, T.J. McCoy and Brandon Sandifer.

Vanderbilt had not faced a ranked opponent in more than a month when it went to Houston last Saturday. At the last second, McElwain settled on an ice-cold Hardin, who only had time to boot a few warm-up kicks before it counted. He left no doubt on this one – even if everyone else had no idea what to expect.

The Gators (8-1, 6-1, No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings) gained just 258 total yards, had four turnovers and were completely dominated up front by the Commodores (3-6, 1-4).

“This game is probably the most important game we are going to play”, Florida defensive end Joey Ivie said. “And we’ll grade it on Sunday, but I know that they came here to play”, McElwain said. They didn’t anything we didn’t see [on film], other than beat us to the punch. “I just remember losing, that was like the first time we lost – I don’t know how many years – to that team”.

The Gators (8-1, 6-1 SEC) won the Eastern Division for the first time since 2009, following through on McElwain’s mantra to “restore the order”.

“The guy didn’t have a chance back there”, McElwain said. “Let’s call it the way it is”. Harris is 25 of 51 for 426 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions the past two games.

The Florida Gators (7-1) are coming from a 27-3 win over the Georgia Bulldogs last week.

“We’ve got a lot ahead of us, ” he said. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of those players”.

It was the a rare slip-up for the Gators’ defense. The Gators finished with 93 rushing yards on 34 carries, averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Given the injury situation on the offensive line and the inconsistent play of quarterback Treon Harris, I’m not confident saying the offense can even score 21 points against the Vandy defense, which is giving up less than 19 points a game.

He last kicked in a game in 2011 as a senior at Chamberlain High in Tampa – and it showed.

Yet, the performance would have been all for naught if not for an all-but-forgotten placekicker. MacInnes, who’s a dental student, has not kicked a football in competition since making 48- and 43-yard field goals in a Hillsborough County all-star game at Raymond James Stadium in December 2011.

Florida entered the season with only 37 games of SEC experience on its starting offensive line – contributed from center Cameron Dillard, left tackle David Sharpe and right guard Trip Thurman.