Florida can’t keep pace with LSU
BATON ROUGE, La. — If LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels wins the Heisman Trophy, he should thank Florida’s defense during his acceptance speech at New York City.
All of them by name.
The Gators (5-5, 3-4 SEC) showed plenty of fight Saturday night at Tiger Stadium, but Daniels and the Tigers (7-3, 5-2) proved too much to overcome during LSU’s 52-35 victory.
The LSU star’s Heisman campaign rolled on at the expense of the Tigers’ longstanding rival during their final meeting as SEC division crossover foes.
Daniels threw for 372 yards and 3 scores plus rushing for 234 yards and 2 scores on 12 carries as the Tigers compiled 701 yards.
The stakes were not as high as might be expected between two SEC blue bloods. The action, though, was at fever pitch, especially during a third quarter featuring 5 touchdowns, 370 yards and the Gators’ only lead of the game.
A 1-yard keeper by quarterback Graham Mertz gave the Gators a 28-24 lead, but LSU led all but 1:07 as Florida could not contain Daniels.
Following the Gators’ go-ahead score, Daniels completed a pair of 12-yard throws before taking off from the pocket for a 51-yard touchdown run.
A 6-yard touchdown pass on LSU’s next series to running back Noah Cain pushed the Tigers’ advantage to 38-28.
The Gators, though, would not go away.
A 5-yard run by Trevor Etienne to cut the lead to 38-35 with 10:27 to go, marking the third touchdown for Florida’s sophomore star who grew up 90 miles west of Tiger Stadium in Jennings.
Daniels answered with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr., who finished with a team-leading 150 receiving yards and 2 scores. SEC yardage leader Malik Nabers chipped in 132.
Trailing 45-35, the Gators’ hopes ended when Mertz’s pass to freshman Eugene Wilson III was incomplete on 4th-and-3 from the UF 49.
Florida’s loss was its fifth straight for the first time in the longstanding series dating to 1937 and played every year since 1971. The Gators won nine straight meetings from 1988-96.
The defeat dropped coach Billy Napier to 11-12 during his second season in Gainesville. Florida travels next to No. 14 Missouri, a 36-7 winner Saturday against Tennessee.
Standouts
Florida
Mertz: The veteran quarterback opened 8 of 8 for 109 yards and a touchdown. He finished 26 of 38 for 311 yards.
Etienne: The tailback rushed for 99 yards and 3 scores.
Ricky Pearsall: The veteran receiver had 103 yards on 7 receptions on 8 targets, stepping up and making tough catches.
LSU
Daniels: The senior signalcaller accounted for 606 yards and 5 scores.
Malik Nabers: The SEC’s leading receiver had 6 catches for 132 yards.
Harold Perkins: The sophomore linebacker had 8 tackles, including a sack, and a forced fumble.
Noteworthy
Mertz has gone 226 passes without an interception, breaking Tim Tebow’s school record of 202 straight.
Daniels became the second player in SEC history with 200 passing yards plus 200 rushing yards in a game, joining Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel in the 2013 Cotton Bowl.
Florida true freshman Wilson scored his fourth touchdown in 3 games on a 9-yard catch, giving him five in 2023.
Gators right tackle Damieon George’s personal foul was the sixth penalty for the Alabama transfer.
LSU’s depth at running backs was tested. Leading rusher Logan Diggs missed the game with an injury. Key reserve John Emery Jr. left the game with 6:06 left in the first quarter after he fell to the ground, clutching his right knee at the end of a 15-yard run.
The Gators’ last win at Tiger Stadium was in 2016 after a defensive stand on the final play.
Redshirt sophomore center Jake Slaughter made his sixth start in place of veteran Kingsley Eguakun, who has appeared in just four games because of an ankle injury sustained during fall camp.
The field at Tiger Stadium featured the No. 3 emblazoned on a hashmark at both 25-yard lines to honor LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr., who in October was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer.