Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Florida’s ground attack halts Florida State
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The quarterback who grew up just a few minutes down the road helped Florida halt a five-year losing streak to Florida State, and the Gators ensured the Seminoles will not go to a bowl.
Feleipe Franks had three touchdown passes and No. 13 Florida used a punishing ground attack to end a fivegame losing streak to Florida State, defeating the Seminoles 41-14 on Saturday.
Lamical Perine had a 74yard touchdown run as Florida ran for 278 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Perine ran for 129 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per carry.
Florida had 536 offensive yards and reinforced its case for an at-large spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game.
“That’s hard for me to say because only 12 teams get to go do that,” Florida coach Dan Mullen said. “We’ve certainly put ourselves in the conversation as one of those teams.”
‘The Gators (9-3) halted Florida State’s bowl streak, which began in 1982. They ensured the Seminoles their first losing season since 1976, Bobby Bowden’s first season as head coach.
Franks, a redshirt sophomore who grew up just 20 miles south of Doak Campbell Stadium in Crawfordville, completed 16 of 26 passes for 254 yards.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to come here and play against Florida State,” Franks said. “I’ve always wanted to get a win here specifically. I had all my family up here, friends in the stands. It’s gratifying.”
Franks threw touchdown passes to Van Jefferson, Trevon Grimes and Josh Hammond. Grimes led the Gators with five receptions for 118 yards.
NO. 5 GEORGIA 45, GEORGIA TECH 21
ATHENS, Ga. — Jake Fromm threw four touchdown passes, D’Andre Swift ran for 105 yards and No. 5 Georgia romped into the SEC championship game with a rout of Georgia Tech.
The Bulldogs (11-1) couldn’t afford a slip-up, not with top-ranked Alabama looming next week in Atlanta.
Georgia went to the locker room with a 38-7 lead — which, in an interesting twist, was the score of last year’s dominating victory over the Yellow Jackets. The Bulldogs held a 343-66 edge in total yards, piling up 18 first downs to only four by Georgia Tech (7-5).
NO. 15 KENTUCKY 56, LOUISVILLE 10
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Terry Wilson accounted for 340 yards and four touchdowns, Benny Snell Jr. rushed for two scores and No. 17 Kentucky blew out archrival Louisville to win the Governor’s Cup.
The Wildcats (9-3) scored TDs on all five first-half drives and never trailed in posting their first nine-win regular season since 1977, scoring TDs on all five first-half drives. Wilson’s 3-yard scoring run provided a 14-0 lead before he tossed TD passes of 28 and 13 yards to Lynn Bowden for a 35-10 cushion late in the second quarter. The sophomore transfer threw a 32-yard TD to Josh Ali in the third to make it 42-10.
Wilson completed 17 of 23 passes for 261 yards and rushed for 79 in his biggest game with Kentucky. Snell rushed for TDs of 7 and 24 yards, A.J. Rose ran for a 75-yard score and Kavosiey Smoke had a 37-yard TD run as Kentucky posted its most lopsided series victory over the Cardinals (2-10) since ‘98 (68-34).
VANDERBILT 38, TENNESSEE 13
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kyle Shurmur completed his first 15 passes and finished with 367 yards and three touchdowns as Vanderbilt routed in-state rival Tennessee to become bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons.
Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5) also won its third consecutive over Tennessee, something the Commodores hadn’t managed since a six-game streak that ended in 1926.
Tennessee (5-7, 2-6) sacked Shurmur three times. That didn’t stop Vanderbilt from simply dominating the Vols, outgaining them 467-242 in total offense and holding the ball for more than 43 minutes.