The Hurricanes and Gators would be the opening Game of Season 30, which maybe added a little extra pressure to this game. The Gators would open the game up with a nice drive and would try to go for it deep in Miami territory but they would be stopped on 4th down. The Hurricanes offense would take the field for the first time but would not be able to put much together and would have to punt. The Gators would not take long to put the first points on the board after that, four plays later and they were up 7-0. Miami would hit on a big 4o yard pass play to open up the 2nd quarter. The next play Damien Martinez would score from 10 yards out to tie the game at 7-7. The Hurricanes defense would come up with a huge play next. After a nice Florida drive, Safety Isaiah Taylor would intercept a pass near the end zone. Miami would not be able to capitalize though and would be forced to punt after a 3 and out. "That 3 and out, was tough," said Coach Dealer, "we had a good chance to swing some momentum back to our side of the ball and we just couldn't do anything with it." Florida would score on a big play to TE Arlis Boardingham for a 58 yard TD reception and a 14-7 lead. The Canes offense would again go 3 and out on their next possession. Florida would capitalize and score ona a 4th and 1 play with under :10 remaining in the 1st half. The Canes would go into the half down 21-7. "Overall we played a pretty bad first half of football, especially offensively. Then defensively we made some plays but then gave up too many big plays," said Dealer.
The Hurricanes would start the ball with the second half, hoping to get themselves right back in the game. Unfortunately they were not able to but neither were the Gators. On Miami's second possession of the 2nd half, they finally got some things rolling. After a couple big pass plays, mainly a 29 yard pass to Xavier Restrepo that go the Canes down to the 2 yard line. Martinez would punch it in from 2 yards out to cut the lead to 21-14. The next 30 seconds of game time were killer for the Hurrianes. Florida would score on a big 75 yard TD to go right back up by two scores 28-14. Then two plays later Cam Ward would be intercepted and Florida would then punch it in from 2 yards out to go up 35-14. "I felt like we got hit by a big combo," said Dealer, "one minute we were in the game, the next it felt like we were on the verge of being knocked out."
The Canes would make a late rally, scoring early in the 4th quarter after a nice 9 play drive. Martinez would punch it in for his third TD of the game. The Canes defense would then come up with a big stop, forcing the Gators into a 3 and out. Seven plays later Miami was right back in the endzone this time on a 4 yard pass from Ward to Jacolby George. The two point conversion would fail though and the Canes would be down 35-27. Florida would then take the ball over with 3:05 on the clock. On a big 3rd down before the 2 minute warning they were just able to get around the Canes defense and pick up the first down. They would then get the last needed first down to clinch the victory. "I liked how we fought back when we got put on the ropes. However, we got to figure out how to get our offense going at all times. We have a big game against Alabama in week 2 and if we play like that it's going to get really ugly," said Dealer.
In a game that could have easily gotten out of hand, Florida in Coach MC-s debut held off a pesky Miami Hurricane team to record a 35-27 victory at Hard Rock Stadium.
After getting stopped on a 4th and 1 at the Miami 22-yard line, Coach MC told his Freshman QB not to worry and that there would be many more opportunities to shine.
Lagway responded by posting 5 total TDs (4 passing, 1 rushing) in a nearly flawless display. Florida and Lagway got the scoring started in the first quarter by hitting WR Eugene Wilson III over the middle for 6. Miami then responded with a TD score of their own by Damien Martinez.
Outside of a costly second-quarter interception where he missed a wide-open Arlis Boardingham, instead forcing a throw to Wilson III, Lagway shredded the Hurricane defense for 359 yards through the air on 19-24.
A beautiful out route to the TE Boardingham for a 56-yard score made the score 14-7 with a little over 3 minutes in the 1st half. Florida's defense stood tall for most of the day and forced a 3 and out and Lagway was able to run a perfect 2-minute drill, capping the drive with a TD strike to WR Elijhah Badger to make the game 21-7.
Both teams would punt to open the second half but Miami would open the second half scoring with a beautiful drive capped by another Martinez TD scamper. However, the next 30 seconds of gameplay would
dictate the final outcome. Lagway would hit Boardingham on a PA for a 75-yard one-play score to make the game 28-14. Miami would get the ball back, opening their crucial drive with a sack by Florida Freshman DL LJ McCray, and then throw a pick on the next play, with LB Shemar James returning the ball to the Miami 2-yard line.
Lagway would punch the ball in from 2 yards out to make the score 35-14. Whispers around the stadium were that this once-quality matchup was about to turn into a blowout. However, Miami settled down and pitched a near-perfect 4th quarter, scoring 13 unanswered to make the game 35-27. Going out with just under 3 minutes left, Coach MC begged his Gators offense to execute and they did. Converting two crucial thirds and shorts to keep the hot Miami offense off the field.
Lining up in victory formation, Coach MC was showered in Gatorade as he came in and won his first game at UF on the road vs. a ranked rival. When asked about the season ahead, Coach MC responded by saying, They picked us to finish 11th in the conference, which is a joke. We are going to come into every game prepared and we are going to shock the SEC. Mark my words.
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