Live Updates! Florida Gators rout Tennessee Vols
It was Emory Jones' night Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Jones completed 21 of 27 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns and ran 15 times for 144 yards to lead the No. 11 Florida Gators to a 38-14 win over Tennessee.
The Gators, who play at Kentucky next week, improved to 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the SEC. The Vols fall to 2-2, 0-1.
UF now boasts a 31-20 record in the series against UT and has won 16 of the last 17 meetings, including an active five-game winning streak.
The Gators have not lost a home game to the Volunteers since 2003, owning nine-straight home wins in the series.
Florida’s 14-straight games of 400-plus total yards is tied for the longest-active streak in the nation — the first time in the last 40 years the Gators have had as many 400-yard games consecutively. UF also has at least eight-straight 400-yard outings against SEC teams for the first time in school history — a streak now at 11 games.
GatorSports podcast:Florida ready to dominate Tennessee in The Swamp: Gators-Vols Preview
Abolverdi's Analysis:Vols' recent games at Florida have been close, but this one won't be
First quarter
7:22 p.m. | Gators score first
Emory Jones' 4-yard TD pass to running back Malik Davis caps a 10-play, 60-yard drive in 4:33.
Gators' first-quarter analysis
What went right: Florida’s first defensive and offensive series. The Gators forced a three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, then marched 62 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Emory Jones started the drive with a 12-yard run, completed a 16-yard pass to Justin Shorter and finished it off with a four-yard touchdown toss to Malik Davis.
What went wrong: The second defensive possession. Florida had the Vols facing third-and-9, but gave up a touchdown on the play. Quarterback Hendon Hooker threw a screen pass to running back Tiyon Evans, who evaded three UF defenders on his way to the end zone. The Gators reached the red zone on their ensuing drive, but had to settle for a 47-yard field goal by Jace Christmann after committing five-yard penalties on back-to-back plays.
Play of the quarter: The 47-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Evans.
Trending: Jones, who accounted for 75 yards of total offense and a touchdown in the first quarter.
— Zach Abolverdi
Second Quarter
8:01 p.m.| Vols take lead
JaVonta Payton gets wide open on a 75-yard touchdown catch to give the Vols their first lead.
8:27 p.m. | Gators retake lead
Nay'Quan Wright runs for 23-yard TD.
Gators second-quarter analysis
What went right: Florida’s second to last offensive series of the half. After punting on back-to-back possessions, including a three-and-out, the Gators put together a five-play, 59-yard touchdown drive to regain the lead. Emory Jones converted a third-and-5 with his six-yard completion to Rick Wells, then hooked up with Xzavier Henderson on the next play for a 20-yard pitch-and-catch. Nay’Quan Wright’s 23-yard touchdown run was his first of the season.
What went wrong: Florida’s fourth defensive series. After forcing their second three-and-out in three possessions, the Gators allowed Tennessee to go 89 yards in four plays. Quarterback Hendon Hooker found receiver JaVonta Payton wide open on a 75-yard touchdown catch to give the Vols their first lead.
Play of the quarter: Payton’s long score, which was Tennessee's second play of 40-plus yards.
Trending: Hooker, who finished the first half with 192 yards and two touchdowns on 10 of 15 passing.
— Zach Abolverdi
Third quarter
9:10 p.m. | Gators extend lead
Dan Mullen dials up a double pass and WR Trent Whittemore hits TE Kemore Gamble for a 13-yard touchdown.
Gators' third-quarter analysis
What went right: Florida came out firing on offense. The Gators capped their first drive of the second half when Gainesville native Trent Whittemore tossed the first touchdown of his collegiate career on a 13-yard double-pass to tight end Kemore Gamble to give UF a double-digit advantage less than three minutes into the second half. It was Florida’s first touchdown pass by a non-quarterback since Kadarius Toney’s touchdown pass to tight end Moral Stephens against Mississippi State on Sept. 29, 2018. The Gators forced a turnover on downs when Hendon Hooker’s pass on 4th-and-5 couldn’t be hauled in by Volunteers’ wide receiver Jimmy Calloway. UF made it 31-14 when Jones hit Rick Wells from nine yards out.
What went wrong: Florida’s run defense wasn’t nearly as impressive as it was the week prior against the Crimson Tide. The Volunteers came out of the halftime break and ran the ball eight consecutive times for 44 yards to eclipse the century mark. After UF held No. 1-ranked Bama to under 100 yards on the ground, Saturday’s display was considerably less impressive given the opponent.
Play of the quarter: Mullen dug into his bag of tricks for UF’s first scoring drive, and Whittemore’s connection to Gamble gets the nod here. The play was reminiscent of Toney’s pass to Stephens three seasons ago, a toss that ultimately gave the Gators the upset victory on the road.
Trending: With the Volunteers’ offense just getting past midfield, Florida, up 17, is looking for its defense to get another stop.
— Graham Hall
Fourth quarter
Gators' fourth-quarter analysis
What went right: Malik Davis’ nine-yard touchdown run with under two minutes remaining put Florida in front 38-14, and UF’s defense capped the second-half shutout of the Volunteers.
What went wrong: The Gators gave up another big play, which was an issue all night long despite the outcome. Joe Milton hit Velus Jones Jr. for a 37-yard reception with under a minute remaining, though it would be inconsequential in the final result. Of greater concern may be the injury to offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun. A leader already as a redshirt sophomore, Eguakun went down for the second time of the night midway through the fourth quarter. He's a big reason the Gators came into the night ranked No. 2 in the nation in rushing yards, and UF will need him healthy moving forward.
Play of the quarter: It may have just been a 14-yard rush, but Dameon Pierce’s juke was a sight to behold and got the Gators into Tennessee territory for the game’s final touchdown.
— Graham Hall
No. 11 Florida 38, Tennessee 14
Tennessee 7 7 0 0—14
Florida 10 7 14 7—38
First Quarter
FLA_M.Davis 4 pass from E.Jones (Christmann kick), 9:20.
TENN_Evans 47 pass from Hooker (McGrath kick), 7:05.
FLA_FG Christmann 47, 1:07.
Second Quarter
TENN_Payton 75 pass from Hooker (McGrath kick), 11:31.
FLA_N.Wright 23 run (Christmann kick), 4:15.
Third Quarter
FLA_Gamble 13 pass from Whittemore (Christmann kick), 12:17.
FLA_Wells 9 pass from E.Jones (Christmann kick), 2:04.
Fourth Quarter
FLA_M.Davis 9 run (Christmann kick), 1:39.
TENN FLA
First downs 19 26
Total Net Yards 423 505
Rushes-yards 37-148 40-283
Passing 275 222
Punt Returns 0-0 1-5
Kickoff Returns 4-82 2-42
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0
Comp-Att-Int 15-31-0 22-28-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 3-11 1-2
Punts 6-43.2 73-45.67
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 10-85 6-45
Time of Possession 24:21 35:29
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING_Tennessee, Small 11-59, Evans 11-50, Hooker 13-23, Hyatt 1-10, Milton 1-6. Florida, Jones 15-144, Pierce 8-62, Davis 10-45, Wright 7-32.
PASSING_Tennessee, Hooker 13-23-0-221, Milton 2-8-0-54. Florida, Jones 21-27-0-209, Whittemore 1-1-0-13.
RECEIVING_Tennessee, Evans 3-71, V.Jones 3-64, Tillman 3-10, Payton 2-82, Warren 2-23, Small 1-22, Calloway 1-3. Florida, Wells 4-39, Shorter 3-54, Henderson 3-36, Copeland 3-32, Gamble 3-29, Davis 2-14, Pierce 2-2, Wright 1-13, Whittemore 1-3.
MISSED FIELD GOALS_Tennessee, McGrath 47.