Three-loss Gators won’t quit on season

GAINESVILLE — The No. 15 Gators’ rallied for a 35-31 win over South Carolina Saturday. Check out the top three things we learned from the game:

1. The Florida Gators have not quit on the season.

You had to wonder early Saturday after the Gators fell behind 14-0 when twice they left open South Carolina receivers for touchdowns.

“I was annoyed at 14-0,” UF first-year coach Dan Mullen said.

Mullen, however, said he was not worried. Fans, on the other hand, must have been surveying the nearest exits — just in case of another collapse.

A week after a lop-sided homecoming loss to Missouri, Mullen’s Gators did not give in and gave fans every reason to stick around during an electric afternoon in the Swamp.

UF’s leaders and top players led the comeback amid a tumultuous week that included rumors of a locker-room scuffle after last week’s loss and whispers that defensive stars Jachai Polite and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson had decided to focus on their NFL futures.

Gardner-Johnson silenced the speculation with a tackle on the opening kickoff. He recorded two more, along with a pass break-up and a QB hurry. Polite had two tackles for loss and a half-sack after failing to record one in the past two games.

Expected to be a 1,000-yard back, redshirt junior Jordan Scarlett had been only so-so this season. On Saturday, he was a force, finishing with a career-high 159 rushing yards.

After he was benched against Missouri, quarterback Feleipe Franks ran like an old-school fullback to energize UF’s offense en route to a 528-yard day, including 367 on the ground.

The game ended on a big play by the Gators’ best player. Sophomore cornerback CJ Henderson tracked down a third-down pass by South Carolina Jake Bentley for an interception.

“That’s what we’re building in the program,” Mullen said. “CeCe, he’s the only senior. I mean, we have a young football team. So when you look at these guys and look at what we’re trying to build here in the future, there’s a lot to be excited about.”

2. Give Kadarius Toney the football whenever possible.

Toney had a season-high six touches from scrimmage Saturday. It’s not nearly enough.

Toney gained 84 yards in his limited role Saturday, a clip of 16 yards a touch. Just think what he could do with 10, 12, 15 touches.

Mullen seems to warming to the idea, even though Toney’s freelancing style can give coaches gray hair.

“I’ll be honest with you,” Mullen said. “About half the time he touches the ball the play doesn’t look anything like we designed it in practice, but exciting things certainly happen.”

3. Penalties have gotten out of hand for the Gators.

The Gators finished with seven penalties for 55 yards, incredibly 10 yards below their season average. This put Mullen’s team 12th among 14 SEC teams.

Right tackle Jawaan Taylor entered Saturday Florida’s mostpenalized offensive player, with eight. He had three, including two on one series, until he was benched.

This is far from winning football. Against teams better than South Carolina, UF’s sloppy play could decide the game.