Gators’ Townsend leading nation

GAINESVILLE — It’s a bad sign when a team’s punter is its best player on the field. Then again, UF senior Johnny Townsend is not any punter.

Townsend was a rare bright spot during the Gators’ dismal 33-17 loss last Saturday to Michigan. He finished the day averaging 54.7 on six punts, a single-game school record if he had met the minimum of seven attempts.

“Again, that’s a guy that’s a weapon,” said coach Jim McElwain, echoing a comment he has made several times the past two seasons.

The Gators’ coverage teams sometimes struggle to keep up with Townsend, whose shortest punt was 51 yards. Michigan returner Donovan Peoples-Jones ran back a 55-yard boot for 18 yards.

But even with that and a 56-yard punt for a touchback, Townsend’s net punting average was a gaudy 44.7 yards. The former Orlando Boone standout led the nation in punting last season. After one week, Townsend is on top again — by 3.67 yards.

Meanwhile, the second half of the Gators’ formidable one-two special teams punch looks to bounce back against Tennessee next Saturday. K Eddy Piñeiro hit a 46-yard field goal to give UF a 3-0 lead, but missed a 47-yarder with the Gators’ leading 17-10 to end a streak of 13 straight field goals.

“He’s pretty resilient,” McElwain said. “He what he did. He hustled his approach a little bit.”

Next game: No. 22 UF vs. No. 25 Tennessee, 3:30 p.m., CBS

Edgar Thompson realized Sept. 16,