THE QUICK SLIDE
#9 MISSOURI 33, FLORIDA 31
WHAT HAPPENED: The Gators lost their starting quarterback, regained the lead with less than two minutes left, but then lost the game 33-31 on a last-second field goal Saturday night at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri (kicker). Harrison Mevis kicked four field goals, including the game-winner with five seconds left to give the ninth-ranked Tigers the win. Missouri gained 62 yards in 12 plays on the game-winning drive, including converting a fourth-and-17 to keep its comeback effort alive. “I have to believe that something good will come from this,” UF head coach said Billy Napier said of his team’s fourth straight loss. “We’ve got some guys feeling bad right now.” Shortly before Mevis’ 30-yard game-winning score, it seemed as if the Gators would end a three-game losing streak and qualify for the bowl in a completely unexpected way on Saturday night – with Backup QB Max Brown He directed two shots on goal in a stunning upset in the fourth quarter. The Gators took the lead when Trey Smack hit a 35-yard field goal to give Florida a 31-30 lead with 1:36 left. However, this act was short-lived and was not meant to be. The Tigers took over at their 25 after Smack’s field goal and reached their 33 when faced with fourth-and-17. Missouri QB Brady Cook Blow Luther’s burden for a 27-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Five plays later, Mevis scored the game-winning field goal. While the Gators have remained winless since their road win at South Carolina a month ago, Brown kept the Gators in the game Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd. He replaced the injured starter Graham Mertz late in the third quarter and gave UF two shots on goal and the lead after a costly mistake. The Gators trailed 23-21 early in the fourth quarter and were at Mizzou’s 15 when Brown failed a handoff on a turnover Montreal Johnson Jr., whose right elbow knocked the ball out of Brown’s hand and Missouri recovered. Two plays later, Cook connected with WR Theo Wease Jr. for a 77-yard score. However, instead of going out, the Gators responded with two scoring drives to take a 31-30 lead. Napier said after the game that Mertz suffered a non-displaced broken collarbone. Mertz was injured late in the third quarter while gaining 11 yards on third-and-5 for a first down. On the run, Mertz separated two Tigers with a bulldozer run. He stayed in the game, but after a handoff to Johnson on the next play, he immediately went to the locker room to get an X-ray. Mertz was 14 of 21 for 183 yards, two touchdowns and an interception before exiting. The Gators managed 500 yards of total offense with RB Trevor Etienne They added a rushing and receiving TD, but the Tigers managed 508 yards against a UF defense that struggled mightily in the second half of the season.
WHAT IT MEANS: Florida lost its fourth straight game after a 5-2 start, leaving it one win away from bowl eligibility. The Gators finished the conference portion of the schedule at 3-5, marking their third straight season of losing SEC games despite a valiant performance on the road.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Brown came into the game after Mertz was injured and had a costly mistake missing an exchange with Johnson. Meanwhile, he responded by leading the Gators in consecutive scoring drives. Brown, a sophomore from Tulsa, Oklahoma, completed 4 of 5 passes for 56 yards. He ran seven times for 47 yards and proved capable in his longest time on the field since joining the program.
AMAZING STATISTICS: Mertz’s school-record streak of 239 consecutive passes without an interception ended with his pass to TE in the second quarter Arlis Boardingham sailed high and deflected off Boardingham’s hands to be intercepted by Missouri S JC Carlies. Mertz is broke Tim TebowThe streak of 203 during last week’s loss at LSU.
NEXT: The Gators close out the regular season next week at The Swamp against rival Florida State. The Seminoles defeated North Alabama 58-13 on Saturday night, but suffered a devastating loss at QB Jordan Travis, who left the game in the first quarter and was immediately carted to a waiting ambulance. Travis’ lower left leg was bent awkwardly as several North Alabama tacklers converged and took him to the ground. Travis’ leg was placed in an air cast by the team’s medical staff in the quiet Doak Campbell Stadium.