McElwain mystified by kicking woes

GAINESVILLE — The struggles of Florida placekicker Austin Hardin remain a mystery to coach Jim McElwain.

Hardin’s 43-yard game-winner during the Gators’ 9-7 win against Vanderbilt seemed to signal a rebirth. A week later, he drilled a 39-yarder at South Carolina.

But Hardin’s struggles returned last Saturday against FAU. He missed field goals from 33 and 34 yards, and an extra point in overtime. When the Owls faced first-andgoal from the Florida 9-yard line in overtime, Hardin’s miss loomed large.

Hardin is 5-of-11 on field-goal attempts this season, including misses from 33 yards, 34 yards (three times) and 35 yards. He also has missed three extra-point attempts.

“This is beyond me,” McElwain said. “I mean, look, the guy is trying. He’s our kicker and we support him. He has to go out there and make it.”

McElwain benched Hardin, a junior on scholarship, in favor of freshman walk-on Jorge Powell. But Powell struggled before suffering a season-ending injury.

■ Beaten for touchdowns in consecutive games, senior defensive back Brian Poole knew what he had to do against FAU.

Targeted on the game’s final two plays in overtime, Poole broke up each pass to preserve the win.

“Just one-on-one situations,” he said Monday. “It was either do or die.”

Next game: No. 8 UF vs. No. 14 FSU, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN