6 several hours back
AP
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — – Jaydon Hill was meant to dress in a brace on his ideal knee Saturday. He had practiced with it for weeks. He observed it waiting around for him on the sideline.
But he felt so superior in warmups that he made a decision to go away it there. And he is not going to contact it now.
Hill intercepted two passes, which includes one particular he returned 49 yards for a touchdown, and Florida held on to beat Missouri 24-17 on Saturday to conclude a six-video game skid in Southeastern Conference participate in.
Hill’s select-6 was amongst a bevy of major performs that gave the Gators (4-2, 1-2 SEC) their first league victory in a calendar year. His next interception ended a third-quarter push that had arrived at Florida’s 16-lawn line.
“Terms can not even explain it,” Hill stated. “Just grateful for being here.”
It was a breakout functionality for Hill, a third-calendar year sophomore who was taking part in his next video game because returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that wiped out his 2021 period. Hill experienced been a projected starter this previous spring but wounded a diverse ligament in the exact knee and required arthroscopic surgical procedures.
“What a tale, suitable?” coach Billy Napier mentioned. “The discipline to continue to rehab, to remain the class. He is got enthusiasm about this recreation. I normally felt like seeing him in spring ball that he was one particular of the very best gamers that we had. That confirmed up now. … He was a difference-maker currently.”
Hill’s perform versus the Tigers (2-4, -3) also backed up his bulletin-board opinions before this week.
“I’m like, ‘Man, I know what we’re supposed to do,'” Hill mentioned. “We’re meant to beat Missouri. That is some thing we are supposed to do. What I reported, I experienced to again it up. I arrived out here and I did that.”
Missouri beat Florida five moments in the prior 10 conferences. But the Gators entered Saturday’s game as 10 1/2-place favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook and looked like they could possibly be in difficulties soon after getting just 65 yards in the initially fifty percent.
But Florida’s ground match took above in the second half, finding very long runs from Montrell Johnson (36, 41), Trevor Etienne (39) and Anthony Richardson (32) to find the finish zone.
The Gators finished with 231 yards rushing, including 212 soon after the crack. Johnson led the way with 86 yards and a landing.
However, it was Florida’s protection that clinched the match. The Gators stopped a fourth-and-2 enjoy with 1:17 remaining to set the Tigers away.
“I truly feel like we’re designed to perform winning football,” mentioned Napier, who enhanced to 19-4 in one particular-possession online games as a head coach.
Richardson concluded 8 of 14 passes for 66 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. It was his fifth straight match with at the very least just one turnover. He also ran for 45 yards.
Brady Cook dinner was 22-of-30 passing for 220 yards for Missouri. Nathaniel Peat ran for 117 yards and a rating.
“It can be not a lack of energy. It can be not a absence of struggle,” Mizzou mentor Eli Drinkwitz stated. “Just received to locate a way. … There is some matters we’re obtaining far better at, but we’re not finding the outcomes.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Missouri: Immediately after oh-so-shut losses to Auburn and Ga, Missouri had a further staff on the ropes. The Tigers in all probability would have had a first-50 % shutout if not for a 48-property punt return and a 49-garden operate.
Florida: The Gators don’t have an identification 6 game titles into the Napier period. A lot of assumed it would be the Richardson Display, but Richardson has at the very least 1 turnover in 5 consecutive online games. Florida cannot cease the run and has very little passing prowess.
Important Injuries
Missouri receiver/punt returner Luther Burden wounded his left ankle in the third quarter and was assisted off the subject. He experienced 5 receptions for 20 yards.
NEW Hall OF FAMERS
Previous and longtime Florida administrator Jeremy Foley, credited with making the Gators a single of the top athletic programs in the state, was one of 9 inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame this weekend. Foley acquired in as an honorary letterwinner.
Signing up for him in the 2022 course: jogging back again and U.S. Olympic sprinter Jeff Demps, swimmer Conor Dwyer, cornerback Joe Haden, softball participant Michelle Moultrie, basketball forward Chandler Parsons, triple jumper Christian Taylor, catcher Mike Zunino and tennis mentor Steve Beeland.
UP Up coming
Missouri: Will get a bye 7 days before web hosting Vanderbilt on Oct. 22.
Florida: Hosts LSU subsequent Saturday night, the Gators’ sixth residence video game in seven months.