SEC roundup: Florida shocks Tennessee with long TD on game’s final play

Both Florida and Tennessee continue to recruit at a high level, but scoring touchdowns shouldn’t be quantum physics hard for these programs in the first three quarters.

A stat that was particularly important since the Florida offense has treated the end zone like lava so far this year, failing to score a touchdown in the season’s first 114:47 before delivering the highlight of the college football season on the game’s final play.

The Vols also rotated more players through their defensive front seven in the heat of the game than they did in the first two games of the season, against Georgia Tech and Indiana State. While the Gators were taking care of business in the Swamp, their next two opponents were making their own statements as Kentucky beat SC 23-13 and Vanderbilt (which plays at Florida on September 30) topped No. 18 Kansas State 14-7. Because of the magical optics of it all – a quarterback rolling to his right, then setting his feet, then launching a majestically high long bomb that came descending out of the Florida sky into the waiting arms of a Gators receiver.

Franks fumbled twice and was sacked once by the Wolverines while throwing for 75 yards but drew praise from coach Jim McElwain for how he handled a top defense on the road. “I was just thinking about getting the ball into a receiver’s hands”.

Florida 26, Tennessee 20 FinalThere are no words.

“They made great adjustments, gave us different looks”, Reese said.

Florida missed a chance to blow the game open after Cimaglia missed a field-goal attempt from 44 yards. Instead, they beat the Volunteers (2-1, 0-1).

Freshman Malik Davis followed a series later with a 74-yard run. Quniten Dormady completed 13 of 18 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns against an interception while Jarrett Guarantano added 41 yards and a touchdown in 4-for-12 passes.

Two snaps after that, Tennessee’s defense returned the favor as Rashaan Gaulden snared a tipped Franks pass at the Florida 40.

Last year, in a press conference after Florida beat LSU to squash Tennessee’s hopes of playing in the SEC Championship, Jones told reporters, “They’ve won the biggest championship – and that’s the championship of life”, which led to tons of jokes on social media.

Marquez Callaway did return a punt for 29 yards into Florida territory in the third quarter.

With nine seconds left and the game tied at 20, the Gators had one last shot and they sure made the most of it. Quarterback Feleipe Franks guaranteed that there would be no overtime in Gainesville today.

Florida is now 1-1 on the season and will play Kentucy next weekend at Commonwealth Stadium Kentucky.