Florida withstands inept QB, gets wild win vs. Miami
ORLANDO, Fla. — Feleipe Franks was clutch one minute and confused the next, showing the kind of inconsistency that got him benched five times in two years.
His job might be in jeopardy again if not for Florida’s defense.
Franks made up for three inexcusable turnovers by accounting for three touchdowns, doing just enough to help the eighth-ranked Gators beat rival Miami 24-20 Saturday night in a wild and wacky opener.
“Last five minutes of the game, I aged 10 years,” Florida coach Dan Mullen said. “That was exhausting.”
Franks threw for 254 yards and two scores and ran for another as the Gators won for just the second time in their last nine meetings with the Hurricanes. Franks also threw two interceptions — both horribly inaccurate passes — in the fourth quarter.
He looked anywhere from good to great, from lost to downright awful. He dropped in a perfect pass to Josh Hammond that gained 65 yards and set up the go-ahead score in the fourth and later in the quarter threw right to a defender. He also fumbled in the first half while deciding what to do on a read-option play.
Florida’s defense bailed Franks out time and time again, finishing with a staggering 10 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss.
“We don’t have the maturity level to see a victory through,” first-year Canes coach Manny Diaz said.
There were numerous pregame suspensions. Florida suspended four players, including safety Brad Stewart and defensive tackle Tedarrell Slaton. The Gators also held out receiver Rick Wells and walk-on defensive back Pat Moorer for not living up to “the Gator Standard.”
Miami, meanwhile, suspended sophomore cornerback DJ Ivey for a “violation of team rules.”
WASHINGTON: Backup quarterback Jake Haener is leaving No. 13 Washington after losing a camp battle for the starting job to Georgia transfer Jacob Eason.
Washington released a statement announcing Haener was leaving the program effective immediately. There were no other details. A day earlier, Washington coach Chris Petersen announced Eason would be the starter for the opener against Eastern Washington next week, but indicated Haener would play.
FCS KICKOFF CLASSIC: In Montgomery, Ala., Nathan Mays threw for two touchdowns and the defense forced four turnovers to lead Youngstown State to a 45-22 win over Samford.
VILLANOVA 34, COLGATE 14: In Hamilton, N.Y., Danny Smith threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, leading Villanova to win the first game of the 150th season of college football.