GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Anthony Richardson ran for 3 scores in his 2nd profession start, including a 2-garden scamper with 1:25 remaining, and Florida upset seventh-ranked Utah 29-26 on Saturday night to get the Billy Napier era off to a rousing start off.
Richardson was the ideal participant on the industry most of the night time. He truly showed up down the extend, whilst linebacker Amari Burney was the dude who sealed the victory for the Gators.
Burney intercepted Cam Rising’s next-down go into the end zone with 17 seconds remaining. That set off a wild celebration that surely will past long into the night.
Richardson took a knee from there, and the Gators stormed the subject to revel in their 33rd consecutive victory in residence season openers. Which is the longest present streak in the nation.
Richardson ran 11 instances for 106 yards and was by no means stopped for a decline. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 168 yards and played turnover-free of charge soccer.
His most effective engage in? He had an electrifying 2-level conversion early in the fourth quarter that put the Gators up 22-19. He juked former Florida teammate Mohamoud Diabate with a pump faux and then sprinted right by fellow Utah linebacker Lander Barton just before throwing a strike to Ja’Quavion Fraziers in the again of the conclude zone.
Utah answered and took the lead briefly, but Richardson did it all over again. He moved the chains with a 3rd-down toss and once more with a fourth-down run, both equally of which set up his video game winner.
Soaring moved the Utes in posture to steal just one on the road for a staff that entered the season with its maximum preseason rating in college heritage. But Rising’s previous move was his most crucial — or high priced — of the night.
Soaring finished 22 of 32 passes for 216 yards, with a landing and the turnover. He also ran for 91 a lot more.
Tavion Thomas had 115 yards rushing and a score for Utah, which caught a crack when it rained about two several hours before kickoff and erased no matter what advantage Florida experienced with sweltering summer season warmth and humidity.
THE TAKEAWAY
Utah: The defending Pac-12 champions showed resiliency on the road, battling back again to get the guide in the fourth quarter. Climbing, Thomas and Micah Bernard were being as great as advertised on the ground, and Brant Kuithe (9 catches for 105 yards and a TD) showed why he’s considered a person of the most effective tight finishes in the place. Regardless of the decline, the Utes have more than enough expertise and experience to even now be a aspect in the Faculty Football Playoff.
Florida: The Gators really do not glance like they’ll in rebuilding manner for lengthy. Napier’s recruiting has jumped in the last two months and a sport like this could do miracles to help him shut the gap on Southeastern Meeting heavyweights Alabama and Georgia.
MILLION Greenback HANDSHAKE
Napier showed a bit of modern-day-working day coaching nuance in the initial half when he still left his crew for the duration of a timeout to provide millionaire booster Hugh Hathcock a handshake and a partial hug. Hathcock is just one of the program’s top rated donors.
Hathcock, who owns Velocity Automotive Solutions, gave the University Athletic Association a $12.6 million gift in April. Some of the dollars will be utilized to renovate Florida’s ageing basketball practice facility and some is absolutely sure to assistance the soccer plan. The Gators approach to title a suite tower at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and its basketball sophisticated soon after Hathcock.
UP Subsequent
Utah: hosts Southern Utah up coming Saturday. The in-point out groups performed at the time earlier, with the Utes successful 24- in 2016.
Florida: carries on its difficult opening extend when it hosts No. 20 Kentucky to remaining SEC perform subsequent Saturday night time.
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