Florida quarterback Emory Jones has unwaveringly supported backup Anthony Richardson all season. He eagerly coached Richardson from the sideline. He enthusiastically cheered for Richardson after each large play. He overtly pulled for Richardson’s return from a strained proper hamstring.
Now, although, it is time for Jones to bask within the highlight.
Jones had a career-high 4 touchdowns passes, probably quieting requires Richardson to play extra, and No. 20 Florida routed woeful Vanderbilt 42-Zero Saturday.
“I appeared up on the scoreboard one time they usually stated I threw 4, and I believed it was flawed,” Jones stated. “I actually did not keep in mind doing it. All the fellows round me, they positively had been the largest a part of that. They make all of it occur.”
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It was a feel-good victory for the Gators on homecoming after a gut-wrenching loss at Kentucky primarily knocked coach Dan Mullen’s workforce out of rivalry within the Southeastern Convention’s Jap Division.
Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) received its eighth straight within the sequence and its 30th within the final 31 conferences. The Commodores (2-4, 0-2) dropped their 15th consecutive league recreation.
Jones was the star of this one. He accomplished 14 of 22 passes for 273 yards, with TD passes to Ja’Quavion Fraziars, Trent Whittemore, Dameon Pierce and Jacob Copeland. Pierce additionally scored twice extra on brief runs.
Richardson performed sparingly for the second straight week. His first move was intercepted. He returned the next sequence however ended up giving approach to Jones till getting again on the sphere for mop-up responsibility within the fourth quarter.
“I believe all of the quarterbacks have a studying curve,” Mullen stated. “That why there’s growth that goes into it. I do assume Anthony works his tail off, has an amazing strategy in what he’s doing, nice strategy at preparing at follow.
“I see him enhancing. The great factor, we’re throwing him in and he’s getting some alternatives in the course of the recreation to go present what he can do, and he’s bought to proceed to enhance.”
Vanderbilt had a number of possibilities to make the sport extra aggressive, however Alabama switch Joseph Bulovas missed three subject objectives. He was errant from 39, 41 and 33 yards out. The Commodores additionally had a landing overturned when Chris Pierce failed to take care of possession on a fourth-down catch when he hit the bottom within the second quarter.
“We had an amazing day shifting the ball,” Vandy receiver Cam Johnson stated. “When it comes right down to it, it was a matter of capturing ourselves within the foot.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Vanderbilt: First-year head coach Chris Lea has a rebuilding mission on his palms, however he absolutely can draw loads of positives from this loss. The Commodores ran 80 performs and had been eight of 20 on third down.
“If you may make your subject objectives and rating touchdowns once you’re on their aspect of the sphere, swiftly the vitality shifts,” Lea stated.
Florida: Mullen wasn’t happy along with his workforce’s first-half efficiency. The Gators led 21-0, nevertheless it may have been 21-13. He ripped into gamers and halftime and eventually bought them going with a faux punt on the fourth play of the third quarter.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Florida is the one two-loss workforce in The Associated Press college football poll. The Gators are unlikely to maneuver up a lot, if in any respect, following a lackluster dwelling victory in opposition to an overmatched workforce.
CORNERBACK CHAOS
The Gators performed their third consecutive recreation with out preseason all-SEC cornerback Kaiir Elam, who’s recovering from a sprained proper knee. The unit, which is also with out starter Jaydon Hill (knee), bought even thinner within the first quarter Saturday when Tre’Vez Johnson was ejected for focusing on.
OLYMPIANS HONORED
Eight Olympians and former Florida standouts had whistles hanging from their necks as a substitute of medals Saturday. Swimmers Caeleb Dressel, Bobby Finke, Natalie Hinds and Kieran Smith, hurdler Grant Holloway, distance runner Taylor Manson, softball participant Aubree Munro and baseball participant Mark Kolozsvary served as honorary “Mr. Two Bits” cheerleaders earlier than the sport.
The eight mixed to win 13 medals – seven gold, three silver, three bronze – in Tokyo. Dressel led the best way with 5 gold ones.
HALL OF FAMERS
Tim Tebow and Billy Donovan are lastly in Florida’s Corridor of Fame. Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, and Donovan, probably the most achieved males’s basketball coach at school historical past, had been inducted Friday night time as a part of the 2020 class. The ceremony was delayed a yr due to COVID-19.
UP NEXT
Vanderbilt performs at South Carolina subsequent Saturday. The Commodores have misplaced 12 straight within the sequence.
Florida performs at LSU subsequent Saturday. The Gators have dropped 4 of 5 in Baton Rouge.
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