2023 Florida Football Postgame Notes Florida 49, McNeese State 7 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field – Gainesville, Fla. THE OPENING DRIVE ● Florida extended its nation-leading home opener winning streak to 34-straight wins. o The Gators’ last loss in a home opener came in 1989 (Ole Miss 24, Florida 19). ● The Gators delivered their largest margin of victory (+42) since defeating Vanderbilt, 42-0, on Oct. 9, 2021 (21 games). ● Florida posted its best defensive performance in terms of fewest total yards allowed (112) in 86 games -- since Sept. 17, 2016 vs. North Texas (53). ● QB Graham Mertz’s 526 passing yards in his first two career games at Florida ranks second in program history behind Shane Matthews’ 599 in 1990. They are the only two Florida quarterbacks to eclipse 300 passing yards in their first-career games as Gators. o Mertz opened his UF career with back-to-back games with a completion percentage above 70.0%, completing 14 of 17 passes for 82.4% against McNeese. o Mertz has completed 73.8% of his passes (45-for-61) through two games. • In the first half, Florida scored four rushing touchdowns in a single half for the first time since Sept. 5, 2009 vs. Charleston Southern. Florida saw four different players score a touchdown in a half for the first time since Sept. 5, 2015 vs. New Mexico State. • Saturday’s official attendance of 88,163 marked the sixth-largest crowd vs. an FCS opponent in program history. OFFENSIVE NOTES • Florida made it 13-0 in the first quarter with its first 99-yard touchdown drive since Sept. 18, 2021 vs. No. 1 Alabama (Emory Jones five-yard touchdown rush, 4:04 in third quarter). • Eugene Wilson III became the first true freshman wide receiver to start a home opener since Antonio Callaway in 2015 vs. New Mexico State. o Wilson III is the first Gators true freshman wide receiver to start a game since Caleb Douglas in 2022 vs. South Carolina. o Wilson III finished with a career-high four receptions and 36 yards with his first-career touchdown. Wilson is the last true freshmen wide receiver to score in a game and at home since Caleb Douglas – 2022 at Texas A&M and 2022 vs. Eastern Washington. • RB Treyaun Webb scored his first-career touchdown with a two-yard dash in the second quarter – the first Gators true freshman running back to do so since Trevor Etienne vs. Kentucky in 2022. o Webb set a career high with 33 rushing yards on a career-high seven carries. • Florida’s 117 rushing yards in the first quarter marked the team’s most in the opening quarter of play since Nov. 12, 2022 vs. South Carolina. • Florida’s 212 rushing yards in the first half marked the team’s most since totaling 290 in the first half vs. South Carolina on Nov. 12, 2022. • Mertz has thrown a touchdown pass in 17 of his last 20 games. ● The Gators eclipsed 500 yards for the fourth time in the Napier-era. o This is the 16th time in Florida’s last 39 games that the Gators have totaled 500-plus yards. ● The Gators eclipsed 400 yards for the eight time since the start of 2022. o Florida amassed 400-plus total yards for the 25th time in its last 38 games including 38 of the last 57 contests. ● Florida eclipsed 300 rushing yards for the first time since Nov. 12, 2022 vs. South Carolina. o Week 2 marked Florida’s fourth 300-yard rushing game since 2021. ● The Gators rushed for 200-plus yards for the ninth time in their last 15 games dating back to last season. o The Gators have rushed for 100-plus yards in 12 of their last 15 games dating back to last season. ● By out-gaining McNeese, the Gators have out-gained their opponents in nine of the last 15 games dating back to last season. ● Florida scored 30 points for the eighth time since 2022 and eclipsed 40 points for the third time in
