Perine’s payback
Perine, whose run was the longest for Florida since Emmitt Smith’s 96-yarder against Mississippi State in 1988.
Perine finished with a career-high 130 yards on 14 carries and had Smith waiting to congratulate him afterward.
The junior from Theodore, Alabama, closed out Florida’s 10th consecutive victory. But Florida’s defense really carried the team.
Jon Greenard and David Reese were the stars of the show for Florida, which has given up a measly 16 points in four home games this season.
The Gators kept JaTarvious Whitlow in check and harassed freshman quarterback Bo Nix, whose father, Patrick, upset topranked Florida in Gainesville in 1994.
“That’s the kind of defense we expect to play around here,” Florida coach Dan Mullen said.
Auburn (5-1, 2-1) finished with 269 yards — the ninth-fewest in coach Gus Malzahn’s seven seasons —and converted just 2 of 14 third-down tries. The Tigers also had four turnovers and six three-and-outs.
“We just didn’t get it done offensively,” Malzahn said. ”That starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job of having our guys ready. Any time you turn the ball over four times on the road, you’re going to have a tough time winning.”
Nix completed 11 of 27 passes for 145 yards, with a touchdown and three interceptions — his first turnovers since the season opener. He was sacked twice, once for a 22-yard loss in which he looked completely lost.
Auburn’s biggest problem was staying on its feet.
Nix found Seth Williams for a 46-yard gain in the third quarter, but he overthrew him just enough that Williams had to make a leaping catch. Nix threw an interception in the end zone three plays later.
Equally disappointing for the Tigers: star defensive tackle Derrick Brown sacked Kyle Trask on the final play of the first quarter. The 318-pound Brown, widely considered a top-10 NFL draft pick in April, picked up the loose ball and rumbled 42 yards before stumbling without anyone touching him.
More than 90,500 were on hand for Florida’s homecoming and the debut of its throwback uniforms from the 1960s.
Mullen celebrated by jumping around with his high school buddies in the south end zone — just a few feet from where Perine crossed the goal line. He then kissed his wife, hugged the school president and handed his sweat-soaked visor to a young fan.