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7 hours in the past
AP
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — – Florida quarterback Emory Jones has unwaveringly supported backup Anthony Richardson all season. He eagerly coached Richardson from the sideline. He enthusiastically cheered for Richardson after each huge play. He brazenly pulled for Richardson’s return from a strained proper hamstring.
Now, although, it is time for Jones to bask within the highlight.
Jones had a career-high 4 touchdowns passes, doubtlessly quieting requires Richardson to play extra, and No. 20 Florida routed woeful Vanderbilt 42-0 Saturday.
“I appeared up on the scoreboard one time and so they stated I threw 4, and I assumed it was flawed,” Jones stated. “I actually did not keep in mind doing it. All the blokes round me, they undoubtedly have been the largest a part of that. They make all of it occur.”
It was a feel-good victory for the Gators on homecoming after a gut-wrenching loss at Kentucky primarily knocked coach Dan Mullen’s workforce out of competition within the Southeastern Convention’s Jap Division.
Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) received its eighth straight within the sequence and its thirtieth within the final 31 conferences. The Commodores (2-4, 0-2) dropped their fifteenth consecutive league sport.
Jones was the star of this one. He accomplished 14 of twenty-two passes for 273 yards, with TD passes to Ja’Quavion Fraziars, Trent Whittemore, Dameon Pierce and Jacob Copeland. Pierce additionally scored twice extra on brief runs.
Richardson performed sparingly for the second straight week. His first move was intercepted. He returned the next sequence however ended up giving approach to Jones till getting again on the sphere for mop-up obligation within the fourth quarter.
“I believe all of the quarterbacks have a studying curve,” Mullen stated. “That why there’s improvement that goes into it. I do suppose Anthony works his tail off, has an ideal method in what he is doing, nice method at preparing at observe.
“I see him bettering. The great factor, we’re throwing him in and he is getting some alternatives throughout the sport to go present what he can do, and he is received to proceed to enhance.”
Vanderbilt had a number of possibilities to make the sport extra aggressive, however Alabama switch Joseph Bulovas missed three discipline objectives. He was errant from 39, 41 and 33 yards out. The Commodores additionally had a landing overturned when Chris Pierce failed to keep up possession on a fourth-down catch when he hit the bottom within the second quarter.
“We had an ideal day shifting the ball,” Vandy receiver Cam Johnson stated. “When it comes right down to it, it was a matter of taking pictures ourselves within the foot.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Vanderbilt: First-year head coach Chris Lea has a rebuilding challenge on his fingers, however he certainly can draw loads of positives from this loss. The Commodores ran 80 performs and have been 8 of 20 on third down.
“If you can also make your discipline objectives and rating touchdowns once you’re on their facet of the sphere, rapidly the power shifts,” Lea stated.
Florida: Mullen wasn’t happy together with his workforce’s first-half efficiency. The Gators led 21-0, however it might have been 21-13. He ripped into gamers and halftime and at last received them going with a pretend punt on the fourth play of the third quarter.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Florida is the one two-loss workforce in The Associated Press college football poll. The Gators are unlikely to maneuver up a lot, if in any respect, following a lackluster dwelling victory towards an overmatched workforce.
CORNERBACK CHAOS
The Gators performed their third consecutive sport with out preseason all-SEC cornerback Kaiir Elam, who’s recovering from a sprained proper knee. The unit, which is also with out starter Jaydon Hill (knee), received even thinner within the first quarter Saturday when Tre’Vez Johnson was ejected for focusing on.
OLYMPIANS HONORED
Eight Olympians and former Florida standouts had whistles hanging from their necks as an alternative of medals Saturday. Swimmers Caeleb Dressel, Bobby Finke, Natalie Hinds and Kieran Smith, hurdler Grant Holloway, distance runner Taylor Manson, softball participant Aubree Munro and baseball participant Mark Kolozsvary served as honorary “Mr. Two Bits” cheerleaders earlier than the sport.
The eight mixed to win 13 medals – seven gold, three silver, three bronze – in Tokyo. Dressel led the best way with 5 gold ones.
HALL OF FAMERS
Tim Tebow and Billy Donovan are lastly in Florida’s Corridor of Fame. Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, and Donovan, probably the most completed males’s basketball coach at school historical past, have been inducted Friday evening as a part of the 2020 class. The ceremony was delayed a yr due to COVID-19.
UP NEXT
Vanderbilt performs at South Carolina subsequent Saturday. The Commodores have misplaced 12 straight within the sequence.
Florida performs at LSU subsequent Saturday. The Gators have dropped 4 of 5 in Baton Rouge.
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