GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Graham Mertz threw a few touchdown passes, like two to Arlis Boardingham, and Florida dealt with Vanderbilt 38-14 on Saturday.
The Gators (4-2, 2-1 Southeastern Meeting) bounced back again from a 33-14 drubbing at Kentucky and avenged a beautiful decline at Vanderbilt a year ago.
Mertz and Boardingham came up major in the rematch. Mertz, who obtained knocked to the ground numerous periods and as soon as that forced him to miss two plays, completed 30 of 36 passes for 254 yards prior to supplying way to Max Brown in the fourth. Mertz had scoring throws of 2 and 15 yards to the freshman tight end.
Boardingham, who entered the recreation with 6 receptions for 51 yards, concluded with 7 catches for 99 yards and two end-zone celebrations.
The Commodores (2-5, -3) have dropped 5 in a row, together with 3 consecutive league online games by at the very least 17 points each individual.
Florida concluded with 495 full yards, which includes 215 dashing. Montrell Johnson led the way with 135 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. He had a 34-property scamper on third-and-2 early that helped stake the Gators to a 7- direct. Treyaun Webb added 70 yards on the floor, including a 43-yarder late that established the Gators up for a industry aim.
Vanderbilt can level to 3 failed fourth-down performs as the change.
The Commodores were being about to transform a fourth-and-5 in the second, but Quincy Skinner fumbled and gave the ball back to Florida. They went for it once more on a fourth-and-4 from the 4, but Kamrean Johnson dropped Ken Seals’ go in the end zone.
They experimented with just one extra early in the fourth, but Seals bought sacked.
VANDY QB
Seals, obtaining his 2nd consecutive begin in position of AJ Swann, completed 19 of 34 for 276 yards with two touchdowns. He experienced completions of 52 and 85 yards in the 1st 50 percent, but he was primarily ineffective down the extend.
ODD Phone
Foremost 7- and in Vanderbilt territory, Gators’ mentor Billy Napier dialed up a trick engage in that was a head-scratcher even for Florida’s lackluster offense. The double pass started with Graham Mertz throwing backward to Kahleil Jackson, who then floated a deep ball to functioning again Montrell Johnson.
Security CJ Taylor jumped in entrance for the team’s eighth interception of the year. Vandy scored two performs later, when Seals connected with Will Sheppard for 85 yards to tie the sport.
Sheppard plainly grabbed cornerback Jason Marshall’s facemask at the start off of the perform, prompting Marshall to slow down as he seemed all-around for a flag, and Sheppard ran absent from the rest of the defense.
SHORTHANDED GATORS
The Gators performed with no a few essential contributors on offense. Managing back again Trevor Etienne, still left deal with Austin Barber and centre Kingsley Eguakun all missed the sport mainly because of accidents sustained at Kentucky. Eguakun has now skipped 4 of seven online games this year. Basic safety Miquel Mitchell also sat out.
THE TAKEAWAY
Vanderbilt: The Commodores don’t appear to be to have the offensive firepower or the defensive fortitude to compete in the SEC. So it could be a further extended season for coach Clark Lea, who is now 2-17 in league engage in in a few seasons.
Florida: The Gators required a victory to get back on observe, but their year will get harder from listed here. Florida performs two of its upcoming four away from property, wherever the Gators have dropped 15 of their final 17.
UP Next
Vanderbilt hosts two-time defending national champion Georgia on Saturday. The Commodores were outscored 117- in the last two conferences.
Florida performs at South Carolina upcoming Saturday. The final two games have been blowouts, with the Gamecocks profitable 40-17 in Columbia in 2021 and the Gators profitable 38-6 past 12 months in the Swamp.
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