Post game thread (press conf and and stats

Gators win 24-13

 

Press conf

 

Stats

2024 Florida Football Postgame Notes
Florida 24, UCF 13
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field – Gainesville, Fla.
GATORS USE WIRE-TO-WIRE VICTORY FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT P4 WIN
• Florida has outscored UCF, 124-40, and is 3-0 in three Gainesville meetings.
• The Gators scored on their opening drive for the first time this season and never relinquished the
lead (last: 2023 at Missouri).
• Week 6 vs. UCF marked the ninth-straight sellout in The Swamp and the 13th of the Billy Napier era.
• The Gators have won back-to-back games vs. Power Four opponents by a combined margin of 28
points (69-41).
• For the second-straight game, QB Graham Mertz handled the first, second, fourth and fifth drives of
each half while QB DJ Lagway manned the third and sixth drives.
o The duo finished 23-of-28 (82.0%) for 229 yards and one touchdown after going 26-for-28
(92.8%) for 277 yards last game at Mississippi State.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• QB Graham Mertz threw his 30th TD pass as a Gator to complete a 15-play, 75-yard opening drive.
o Mertz has thrown for a touchdown in 29 of his last 33 starts including 14 of his 15 starts as a
Gator.
o In 23 of 30 games in the Napier era, Florida has registered at least one passing touchdown.
• QB DJ Lagway and Mertz combined to go 9-of-10 for 91 yards and one TD across UF’s first three
drives.
o They finished 16-of-20 (80.0%) for 172 yards in the first half.
• WR Elijah Badger recorded a reception for the 31st-consecutive game, which is tied for 12th-
longest in the FBS.
o Badger scored his second TD as a Gator to complete UF’s opening scoring drive.
• WR Tank Hawkins set career highs with a team-high seven receptions and 60 yards receiving.
• RB Ja’Kobi Jackson scored a rushing TD for the third-straight week – the first-three TDs of his career.
• The Gators have punched in a rushing touchdown in 12 consecutive games and in 25 of 30
contests since 2022.
• RB Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed 10 times for 54 yards and one TD while tying his career high with six
receptions for 24 yards.
o Johnson Jr. owns 31 career rushing TDs (19 at UF), which is the highest total of any active
SEC rusher.
o Johnson Jr. has 33 career touchdowns (two receiving).
• WR Chimere Dike surpassed 2,500 career all-purpose yards, finishing with four catches and a team-
high 88 yards receiving.
• The Gators have rushed for 100-plus yards in four of five games this season and in 24 of their last 30
games since 2022.
• Florida has won the time of possession battle in 12 of 17 contests since the start of last season.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
● Florida registered a season-high five sacks in Saturday’s win over UCF while not allowing a single
sack on offense.
o Since the start of 2021, Florida has out-sacked its opponents by a plus-19 margin.
o Florida’s 214 sacks since 2018 season ranks second in the SEC and 12th nationally.
● The Gators held the Knights to a 28.6% success rate on conversion downs (4/14).
● DE Tyreak Sapp and S RJ Moten combined for a second-quarter sack.
● DE Justus Boone and EDGE George Gumbs Jr. also teamed up for a second-quarter sack.
● LB Grayson Howard notched his first-career sack to increase UF’s game total to three.
● DL D’Antre Robinson and EDGE LJ McCray combined for UF’s fourth sack, marking the first half-sacks
of both of their careers.
● Gumbs Jr. logged a career-high 1.5 sacks, picking up a solo sack for UF’s fifth of the night.
● DB Aaron Gates recorded his second-career tackle-for-loss.
● Florida limited UCF to 29 yards rushing and 119 total yards in the first half.
● DB Bryce Thornton nabbed his first-career interception in the fourth quarter.
● Florida held UCF to under 300 total yards of offense (273).
o This is the ninth time since the start of the 2022 season that the Gators have held an
opponent to 300 yards or fewer.
● Florida held its opponent to under 200 passing yards for the 12th time in the Napier era.
● Since 1996, the Gators are tied-for-sixth nationally in interceptions with an SEC-leading 414.
● The Gators have produced at least one turnover in 21 of 30 games in the Napier era.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
● P Jeremy Crawshaw punted four times for an average of 45.8 yards, including a long of 53, two of
50-plus yards and three inside the 20-yard line.
o Crawshaw’s second punt traveled 53 yards to pin UCF at their own three-yard line.
o Crawshaw has punted for 50-plus yards on 61 of 148 career punts.
● K Trey Smack went 1-for-2 with a 28-yard field goal while missing from 53 yards.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS (7)
● WR Chimere Dike (from QB DJ Lagway): 37-yard reception, second quarter
● WR Elijhah Badger (from QB Graham Mertz): 18-yard reception, second quarter
● WR Tank Hawkins (from Mertz): 31-yard reception, second quarter
● WR Chimere Dike (from Mertz): 20-yard reception, second quarter
● RB Montrell Johnson Jr.: 34-yard rush, second quarter
● WR Chimere Dike (from Mertz): 24-yard reception, third quarter
● RB Ja’Kobi Jackson: 19-yard rush, fourth quarter
SERIES UPDATES
● Today’s game represented the fourth all-time meeting between Florida and UCF and third meeting
in Gainesville.
● With tonight’s victory, the Gators improve to 3-1 (.750) in the all-time series vs. UCF and 3-0 (1.000) in
Gainesville.
o Florida has outscored UCF 124-40 in the three games in Gainesville.
• HC Billy Napier improves to 1-0 against UCF HC Gus Malzahn as head coaches.
o Napier and Malzahn have coached on opposing sidelines seven times with Napier 5-2.
THE STREAK
● Florida has scored in 453-consecutive games -- an NCAA record and 53 games longer than any
other college football team in history.
o The Gators broke Michigan’s record of 365-consecutive games (1984-2014) vs. LSU on Oct.
7, 2017.
o The last time Florida was shut out was on Oct. 29, 1988 vs. Auburn (L, 16-0).
GAME DETAILS
● Florida Game Captains: #1 Montrell Johnson Jr., #44 LB Jack Pyburn, #29 K Trey Smack
● Coin Toss: UCF won the toss and deferred, Florida defended the north endzone.
● Attendance: 90,369 (ninth-straight sel
2024 Florida Football Postgame Notes
Florida 24, UCF 13
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field – Gainesville, Fla.
GATORS USE WIRE-TO-WIRE VICTORY FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT P4 WIN
• Florida has outscored UCF, 124-40, and is 3-0 in three Gainesville meetings.
• The Gators scored on their opening drive for the first time this season and never relinquished the
lead (last: 2023 at Missouri).
• Week 6 vs. UCF marked the ninth-straight sellout in The Swamp and the 13th of the Billy Napier era.
• The Gators have won back-to-back games vs. Power Four opponents by a combined margin of 28
points (69-41).
• For the second-straight game, QB Graham Mertz handled the first, second, fourth and fifth drives of
each half while QB DJ Lagway manned the third and sixth drives.
o The duo finished 23-of-28 (82.0%) for 229 yards and one touchdown after going 26-for-28
(92.8%) for 277 yards last game at Mississippi State.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• QB Graham Mertz threw his 30th TD pass as a Gator to complete a 15-play, 75-yard opening drive.
o Mertz has thrown for a touchdown in 29 of his last 33 starts including 14 of his 15 starts as a
Gator.
o In 23 of 30 games in the Napier era, Florida has registered at least one passing touchdown.
• QB DJ Lagway and Mertz combined to go 9-of-10 for 91 yards and one TD across UF’s first three
drives.
o They finished 16-of-20 (80.0%) for 172 yards in the first half.
• WR Elijah Badger recorded a reception for the 31st-consecutive game, which is tied for 12th-
longest in the FBS.
o Badger scored his second TD as a Gator to complete UF’s opening scoring drive.
• WR Tank Hawkins set career highs with a team-high seven receptions and 60 yards receiving.
• RB Ja’Kobi Jackson scored a rushing TD for the third-straight week – the first-three TDs of his career.
• The Gators have punched in a rushing touchdown in 12 consecutive games and in 25 of 30
contests since 2022.
• RB Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed 10 times for 54 yards and one TD while tying his career high with six
receptions for 24 yards.
o Johnson Jr. owns 31 career rushing TDs (19 at UF), which is the highest total of any active
SEC rusher.
o Johnson Jr. has 33 career touchdowns (two receiving).
• WR Chimere Dike surpassed 2,500 career all-purpose yards, finishing with four catches and a team-
high 88 yards receiving.
• The Gators have rushed for 100-plus yards in four of five games this season and in 24 of their last 30
games since 2022.
• Florida has won the time of possession battle in 12 of 17 contests since the start of last season.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
● Florida registered a season-high five sacks in Saturday’s win over UCF while not allowing a single
sack on offense.
o Since the start of 2021, Florida has out-sacked its opponents by a plus-19 margin.
o Florida’s 214 sacks since 2018 season ranks second in the SEC and 12th nationally.
● The Gators held the Knights to a 28.6% success rate on conversion downs (4/14).
● DE Tyreak Sapp and S RJ Moten combined for a second-quarter sack.
● DE Justus Boone and EDGE George Gumbs Jr. also teamed up for a second-quarter sack.
● LB Grayson Howard notched his first-career sack to increase UF’s game total to three.
● DL D’Antre Robinson and EDGE LJ McCray combined for UF’s fourth sack, marking the first half-sacks
of both of their careers.
● Gumbs Jr. logged a career-high 1.5 sacks, picking up a solo sack for UF’s fifth of the night.
● DB Aaron Gates recorded his second-career tackle-for-loss.
● Florida limited UCF to 29 yards rushing and 119 total yards in the first half.
● DB Bryce Thornton nabbed his first-career interception in the fourth quarter.
● Florida held UCF to under 300 total yards of offense (273).
o This is the ninth time since the start of the 2022 season that the Gators have held an
opponent to 300 yards or fewer.
● Florida held its opponent to under 200 passing yards for the 12th time in the Napier era.
● Since 1996, the Gators are tied-for-sixth nationally in interceptions with an SEC-leading 414.
● The Gators have produced at least one turnover in 21 of 30 games in the Napier era.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
● P Jeremy Crawshaw punted four times for an average of 45.8 yards, including a long of 53, two of
50-plus yards and three inside the 20-yard line.
o Crawshaw’s second punt traveled 53 yards to pin UCF at their own three-yard line.
o Crawshaw has punted for 50-plus yards on 61 of 148 career punts.
● K Trey Smack went 1-for-2 with a 28-yard field goal while missing from 53 yards.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS (7)
● WR Chimere Dike (from QB DJ Lagway): 37-yard reception, second quarter
● WR Elijhah Badger (from QB Graham Mertz): 18-yard reception, second quarter
● WR Tank Hawkins (from Mertz): 31-yard reception, second quarter
● WR Chimere Dike (from Mertz): 20-yard reception, second quarter
● RB Montrell Johnson Jr.: 34-yard rush, second quarter
● WR Chimere Dike (from Mertz): 24-yard reception, third quarter
● RB Ja’Kobi Jackson: 19-yard rush, fourth quarter
SERIES UPDATES
● Today’s game represented the fourth all-time meeting between Florida and UCF and third meeting
in Gainesville.
● With tonight’s victory, the Gators improve to 3-1 (.750) in the all-time series vs. UCF and 3-0 (1.000) in
Gainesville.
o Florida has outscored UCF 124-40 in the three games in Gainesville.
• HC Billy Napier improves to 1-0 against UCF HC Gus Malzahn as head coaches.
o Napier and Malzahn have coached on opposing sidelines seven times with Napier 5-2.
THE STREAK
● Florida has scored in 453-consecutive games -- an NCAA record and 53 games longer than any
other college football team in history.
o The Gators broke Michigan’s record of 365-consecutive games (1984-2014) vs. LSU on Oct.
7, 2017.
o The last time Florida was shut out was on Oct. 29, 1988 vs. Auburn (L, 16-0).
GAME DETAILS
● Florida Game Captains: #1 Montrell Johnson Jr., #44 LB Jack Pyburn, #29 K Trey Smack
● Coin Toss: UCF won the toss and deferred, Florida defended the north endzone.
● Attendance: 90,369 (ninth-straight sel

1st 07:02 UFL - Badger,Elijhah 13 yd pass from Mertz,Graham (Smack,Trey kick) 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:58 0 7
1st 02:32 UCF - Reddick,Grant 27 yd field goal 12 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:30 3 7
2nd 12:50 UFL - Jackson,Ja'Kobi 1 yd run (Smack,Trey kick), 3 plays, 43 yards, TOP 01:11 3 14
2nd 01:50 UFL - Johnson Jr.,Montrell 3 yd run (Smack,Trey kick), 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 03:50 3 21
2nd 00:04 UFL - Smack,Trey 28 yd field goal 6 plays, 46 yards, TOP 00:44 3 24
3rd 06:32 UCF - Reddick,Grant 37 yd field goal 14 plays, 56 yards, TOP 08:28 6 24
4th 07:50 UCF - Harvey,RJ 13 yd run (Reddick,Grant kick), 7 plays, 82 yards, TOP 03:35 13 24



13 24

 

Arkansas leads 19-14 1:3-0 left