Trask paces Florida
Kyle Trask (above) had another four-touchdown day, becoming the first quarterback in SEC history to accomplish the feat in five consecutive games, and No. 8 Florida beat No. 5 Georgia 44-28 on Saturday.
SEC
NO. 8 FLORIDA 44, NO. 5 GEORGIA 28
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kyle Trask started jumping up and down on the sideline. His Florida teammates took it to another level, running and leaping into the stands.
Coach Dan Mullen wasn’t going to be left out off the fun. Mullen pulled himself onto the edge of the front row and celebrated wildly with fans.
Mullen clearly understood the magnitude of the victory. Everyone did.
Trask had another four-touchdown night, becoming the first quarterback in SEC history to accomplish the feat in five consecutive games, and the eighth-ranked Gators beat No. 5 and undermanned Georgia 44-28 on Saturday.
“You’ve got to enjoy it,” Mullen said. “I might be 48 years old, but I’m really young on the inside so I’ve still got to enjoy some of that stuff.”
The Gators (4-1, 4-1 SEC) ended a three-game losing streak in the rivalry known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” — it was Mullen’s most significant victory in three years in Gainesville — and now have a stranglehold on the SEC’s East Division.
The Bulldogs (4-2, 4-2), who entered the game as 3½-point favorites, were likely eliminated from College Football Playoff consideration and probably have a quarterback competition moving forward.
Florida, meanwhile, has a Heisman Trophy contender.
Trask completed 30 of 43 passes for a career-high 474 yards — 8 yards shy of Tim Tebow’s single-game school record — despite playing much of the night without standout tight end Kyle Pitts.
Pitts was knocked out of the game in the second quarter on Lewis Cine’s crushing hit over the middle. Cine was ejected for targeting, adding to Georgia’s already-thin defense.
The Bulldogs were without nose tackle Jordan Davis (elbow), safety Richard LeCounte (motorcycle accident) and defensive tackle Julian Rochester (knee) to start the game.
Trask and the Gators took advantage, burning Georgia repeatedly with wheel routes while overcoming a 14-0 deficit. Running backs Malik Davis, Nay’Quan Wright and Dameon Pierce combined to catch 10 passes for 212 yards.
“Kyle Trask does a great job,” Mullen said. “He’s not going to force the ball. If they’re going bracket and take away and double people, he’s going to go to who you’re not doubling or covering.”
Once Trask and Florida got going, the Bulldogs did little to stop them. The Gators scored on seven of eight possessions after a threeand-out to open the game and finished with 571 yards — the most allowed in Georgia Coach Kirby Smart’s five seasons.
“We just can’t let this game define us,” Bulldogs receiver Kearis Jackson said. “We’re not in the situation we want to be in right now, but we still have games to be played. There are still plays out there to be made.”
The Bulldogs had several chances to make it a one-possession game late, but D’Wan Mathis kept overthrowing open receivers. Mathis, who started the season opener, replaced Stetson Bennett in the third quarter.
NO. 7 TEXAS A&M 48, SOUTH CAROLINA 3
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kellen Mond threw four touchdown passes to become Texas A&M’s career leader, Isaiah Spiller ran for 131 yards and the No. 7 Aggies (5-1, 5-1) routed South Carolina (2-4, 2-4).
Mond moved past Jerrod Jefferson with the 68th touchdown pass of his career, a 52-yarder to Devon Achane in the third quarter with the game long decided.
Mond also ran for a score to help Texas A&M improve to its best start since opening 6-0 in 2016. The Aggies are 7-0 against the Gamecocks.
Mond and Spiller helped the Aggies open a 21-0 halftime lead and cruise to their fourth consecutive victory since a loss at Alabama last month.
Mond had a 15-yard scoring run to start the third quarter before his long TD pass to Achane gave him his latest school record. Mond already holds career Aggies marks for completions, passing yards and total offense. He finished 16 of 26 for 224 yards.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 24, VANDERBILT 17
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Will Rogers threw for 226 yards and a touchdown, and Mississippi State’s defense combined for five turnovers to narrowly eke out a victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Mississippi State (2-4, 2-4 SEC) won its first home game under first-year Coach Mike Leach after losing their first two attempts to Arkansas and Texas A&M last month.
Vanderbilt (0-5, 0-5) had 478 yards of total offense, more than twice Mississippi State’s total, but ultimately couldn’t overcome its turnover woes. Due to a crippling mix of covid-19 infections, injuries and suspensions, the Commodores dressed only 58 scholarship players for the game. The SEC minimum is 53.