GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — When the ultimate seconds ticked, Florida Point out receiver Keon Coleman executed a backflip at midfield. It was excellent, just like the Seminoles.
Trey Benson ran for three touchdowns, including a 26-yarder on 3rd down with significantly less than a few minutes to enjoy, and No. 5 Florida Point out defeat rival Florida 24-15 on Saturday night time to prolong its profitable streak to 18.
Benson concluded with 95 yards on 19 carries — he also bought to split the rock in the postgame locker home — and took force off new quarterback Tate Rodemaker as the Seminoles (12-) moved a victory from a likely place in the University Football Playoff.
“It was an remarkable rally for our group,” said mentor Mike Norvell, whose workforce outscored Florida 24-3 just after slipping driving early.
It was a a lot less-than-perfect finale for Florida (5-7), which lost its fifth consecutive activity and will pass up out on a bowl for the very first time considering that 2017. Mentor Billy Napier’s team experienced two players ejected, experienced a lot more gaffes on particular groups and failed to keep a fourth-quarter direct for the fourth consecutive week.
“We’ve received to learn to end online games,” Napier claimed.
The ‘Noles trailed 12- in the 2nd quarter but were being dominant in the next half, keeping Florida to 48 yards in the closing 30 minutes and minus-15 yards in the fourth quarter. FSU completed with six sacks, including 2 1/2 by standout Jared Verse.
With star quarterback Jordan Travis looking at from the visiting athletic director’s suite with his still left leg in a walking boot, Rodemaker arrived up enormous when it mattered most. He accomplished a dart to Ja’Khi Douglas on a fourth-and-3 engage in from the Florida 34 in the fourth. It established up a small subject purpose that put the Seminoles ahead for great.
“Everybody hit an additional actual physical and mental gear for (Travis),” Verse stated. “I looked him in the eye and explained, ‘We did that for you.’”
Rodemaker was knocked out of the game for a handful of snaps on the ensuing possession, but he returned in time to hand off to Benson for the video game-sealing rating. Kalen DeLoach squashed any views of a late-recreation wonder when he intercepted Max Brown’s move on the subsequent travel.
Rodemaker did minor to make anyone ignore about Travis, a Heisman Trophy prospect whose year ended with a ugly harm last 7 days in opposition to North Alabama. But he did more than enough to support Florida Point out beat its in-point out rival for the seventh time in the very last 10 conferences.
Rodemaker accomplished 12 of 25 passes for 134 yards.
Brown was significantly less productive, finishing 9-of-16 passing for 86 yards in location of hurt starter Graham Mertz (damaged collarbone). Montrell Johnson led the Gators with 107 yards hurrying.
“There’s no denying that we have get the job done to do,” Napier mentioned. “But what offers me self-assurance is what I see from the players, the expansion I see, their text, their steps, the way they get the job done, the selflessness, the sacrifice. They are invested.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
With No. 3 Michigan beating 2nd-rated Ohio Condition, the Seminoles need to go up a spot in the subsequent AP School Football Poll.
THE TAKEAWAY
Florida Point out: The Seminoles returned nearly each individual starter from final year’s workforce with their sights set on creating the CFP. Now they are one particular earn away despite shedding Travis for the period.
Florida: Napier fell to 11-14 right after two seasons, which includes 1-5 in rivalry video games, and took a step back again in 12 months 2. The Gators missed a bowl match, a dropping year that could, at the incredibly least, shorten the total of time Napier gets to proceed his rebuild.
Fortuitous FLORIDA
The Gators scored their to start with 10 details to two fortunate penalties. Florida Condition safety Akeem Dent sacked Brown for a 10-yard reduction on 3rd down, but an formal flagged Dent for a particular foul – a questionable get in touch with looking at Dent seemed to hit Brown with great form. Instead of obtaining to settle for a shorter subject-goal endeavor, Montrell Johnson scored two plays later.
Florida State afterwards executed a pretend punt in the 2nd quarter — the most recent exclusive teams woe for the Gators this year — but the Seminoles had been penalized for delay of recreation.
GATORS EJECTED
Cornerback Jaydon Hill was ejected soon after the focusing on connect with on Rodemaker. Florida freshman defensive lineman Jamari Lyons was ejected in the next quarter for spitting at Florida Condition guard Kelondre Jones.
TEBOW HONORED
Previous Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, been given one particular of the loudest ovations of the evening when becoming honored at the end of the initially quarter. Tebow is section of the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame course, which will be inducted through a Dec. 5 ceremony in Las Vegas. He also spoke to the Gators in the locker home right before the activity.
UP Subsequent
Florida Condition performs No. 9 Louisville future Saturday in the ACC title game in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Florida tries to continue to keep its leading-five recruiting class intact right before following month’s signing day.
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