Landon Watnick
Rivals.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | Turnovers kept Florida in the game heading into the third quarter, but the Gators' lack of offense eventually caught up to them as No. 3 Alabama pulled away down the stretch for a 42-21 victory Saturday afternoon in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. With the loss, the Gators fall to 2-1, with a 1-1 SEC record, and have now lost four straight contests to the Tide dating back to 2008.Instant Analysis now examines the Gators' loss.
IT WAS OVER WHEN: Once Florida responded to 'Bama's 16-play, 66-yard touchdown drive that lasted 7:15 with a three-and-out, the Crimson Tide took full advantage in the third quarter. Nick Saban's group wasted out another 3:07 of clock and scored on a touchdown grab by Amari Cooper to put Alabama ahead 35-21. Jeff Driskel then threw his second pick of the afternoon, Alabama scored on the ensuing drive with Cooper's third touchdown of the afternoon, and the Tide had this one pretty much sealed.
HE STOLE THE SHOW: Cooper is so NFL ready, it's not even funny. He was miles and above the best receiver on the field Saturday. The 6-foot-1 junior got the best of the battle with Vernon Hargreaves III, catching 10 balls for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims (23-of-33 passing, 445 yards, four touchdowns, one interception) and tailback Derrick Henry (20 carries, 111 yards, one touchdown) are also candidates for this category.
HE LAID AN EGG: Driskel was abysmal Saturday, converting only 9 of his 28 passes for 93 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He continued to miss deep throws and make bad reads all day. Although he gained 59 yards on the ground on 11 carries, it was a bad performance all around for Driskel and this Florida offense.
THE STATS DON'T LIE: Alabama outgained UF 645-200 Saturday for the most yards a Gators opponent has allowed all-time, breaking the previous record of 629 by Nebraska set in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl. Much of this was due to UF's failures on third down, as the Gators converted only 2-of-13 times in those situations.
WHAT A PLAY: On a pass from Sims, DeAndrew White took it for a few yards down the right sideline until Keanu Neal came in and stripped the ball. The Gators safety then recovered the ball and took it in for a 49-yard fumble return into the end zone. The aggressive play by Neal put the Gators ahead 14-7 in the first quarter fewer than six minutes into the contest.
THIS MATCH-UP PROVED KEY: Florida's pass rush couldn't shake Sims and the Alabama offensive line. Aside from an Alex McCalister sack, Sims utilized his pass protection well and was incredibly elusive out of the pocket. The Gators couldn't put much pressure on Sims, as he continued to make big throw after big throw and propel 'Bama to victory.
https://florida.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1683662
Rivals.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | Turnovers kept Florida in the game heading into the third quarter, but the Gators' lack of offense eventually caught up to them as No. 3 Alabama pulled away down the stretch for a 42-21 victory Saturday afternoon in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. With the loss, the Gators fall to 2-1, with a 1-1 SEC record, and have now lost four straight contests to the Tide dating back to 2008.Instant Analysis now examines the Gators' loss.
IT WAS OVER WHEN: Once Florida responded to 'Bama's 16-play, 66-yard touchdown drive that lasted 7:15 with a three-and-out, the Crimson Tide took full advantage in the third quarter. Nick Saban's group wasted out another 3:07 of clock and scored on a touchdown grab by Amari Cooper to put Alabama ahead 35-21. Jeff Driskel then threw his second pick of the afternoon, Alabama scored on the ensuing drive with Cooper's third touchdown of the afternoon, and the Tide had this one pretty much sealed.
HE STOLE THE SHOW: Cooper is so NFL ready, it's not even funny. He was miles and above the best receiver on the field Saturday. The 6-foot-1 junior got the best of the battle with Vernon Hargreaves III, catching 10 balls for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims (23-of-33 passing, 445 yards, four touchdowns, one interception) and tailback Derrick Henry (20 carries, 111 yards, one touchdown) are also candidates for this category.
HE LAID AN EGG: Driskel was abysmal Saturday, converting only 9 of his 28 passes for 93 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He continued to miss deep throws and make bad reads all day. Although he gained 59 yards on the ground on 11 carries, it was a bad performance all around for Driskel and this Florida offense.
THE STATS DON'T LIE: Alabama outgained UF 645-200 Saturday for the most yards a Gators opponent has allowed all-time, breaking the previous record of 629 by Nebraska set in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl. Much of this was due to UF's failures on third down, as the Gators converted only 2-of-13 times in those situations.
WHAT A PLAY: On a pass from Sims, DeAndrew White took it for a few yards down the right sideline until Keanu Neal came in and stripped the ball. The Gators safety then recovered the ball and took it in for a 49-yard fumble return into the end zone. The aggressive play by Neal put the Gators ahead 14-7 in the first quarter fewer than six minutes into the contest.
THIS MATCH-UP PROVED KEY: Florida's pass rush couldn't shake Sims and the Alabama offensive line. Aside from an Alex McCalister sack, Sims utilized his pass protection well and was incredibly elusive out of the pocket. The Gators couldn't put much pressure on Sims, as he continued to make big throw after big throw and propel 'Bama to victory.
https://florida.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1683662
