The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
QB Trask, Gators trample Vandy
Kyle Trask threw for a careerhigh 363 yards and three touchdowns — the best passing performance by a Florida quarterback since Tim Tebow’s college finale — and the 10th-ranked Gators overcame a lackluster start to thump the visiting Commodores.
Florida (8-2, 5-2 SEC) was sluggish early, failing to convert a fourth down on the opening possession against the league’s worst defense, missing a field goal and throwing two interceptions. It looked like another version of the “Cocktail Party Hangover,” which seems to happen every year after losing to rival Georgia. But the Gators responded with their most dominant quarter of the season, turning a 14-0 lead into a laugher. It ended with a sixth consecutive victory against the Commodores (2-7, 1-5) and 28th in the last 29 years.
Trask completed 25 of 37 passes and ran for a score before giving way to Emory Jones. Trask’s yardage was the most by a Florida QB since Tebow threw for 482 in the 2010 Sugar Bowl vs. Cincinnati.
Trask looked off early but was nearly perfect late. The junior got plenty of help along the way.
Trevon Grimes took a screen pass and ran 66 yards for a touchdown on Florida’s first play of the second half. Trask connected with Tyrie Cleveland and Kyle Pitts on consecutive plays, the second one for a 15-yard score. Jon Greenard scooped up a fumble and rumbled 80 yards for a score. Kadarius Toney topped all those plays with a 26-yard run in which he juked three defenders and set up Jones’ first of three TD runs.
Freshman Mohamoud Diabate notched three sacks — including the one that led to Greenard’s fumble return. And safety Brad Stiner intercepted two passes, picking off both Vanderbilt QBs. Vanderbilt had a chance to avoid the shutout but Ryley Guay badly hooked a 50-yard field goal attempt with 3:54 remaining.
Western Kentucky 45, (At) Arkansas 19: Ex-Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey led his current team over his old one in the stadium he called home for four years. Storey, who lost his job as starting QB at Arkansas in 2018 and transferred to Western Kentucky (6-4) after the season, went 22 for 32 for 213 yards with a touchdown and added two more scores on the ground. Storey led scoring drives of 42, 75, 59, 73 and 68 yards in the first half.
Arkansas (2-8), which used its third starting QB of the season (freshman John Stephen Jones), had only one drive in that stint that went more than eight yards. He and fellow freshman K.J. Jefferson combined to go just 9 of 25 for 87 yards with two interceptions in the game.
Rakeem Boyd’s 76-yard TD run on the Razorbacks’ second series of the game tied the game, 7-7, before Western Kentucky scored the next 31 points.
The loss dropped coach Chad Morris’ record to 4-18 with the Razorbacks. They have not won an SEC game in his two seasons.
(At) Mississippi 41, New Mexico 3: Mississippi freshmen Snoop Conner, Jerrion Ealy and QB John Rhys Plumlee combined to rush for five touchdowns as the Rebels (4-6) defeated the Aggies (0-9).
Plumlee directed scoring drives on four of the opening five possessions as the Rebels built a 24-3 halftime lead. Plumlee rushed for 177 yards on 12 carries with scoring runs of 2 and 18 yards and finished 11 of 17 for 124 passing yards in a dominating performance that ended in the third quarter. Conner rushed for 109 yards on 13 carries, featuring two TD runs. Ealy finished with 71 yards on 14 carries.