Resurgent Gators set sights on title
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida went 0- forOctober last season, with humbling losses to Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia.
It bothered coaches and players for a year. It motivated them, too. A year later, the Gators have a chance to end the month with a division title.
“I like this better,” coachWillMuschamp said. “So does everybody else.”
Jeff Driskel threw four touchdown passes — three of them after turnovers— and the third- ranked Gators ( 7- 0, 6- 0 SEC) matched their win total from 2011 with a 44- 11 drubbing of No. 9 South Carolina ( 6- 2, 4- 2) on Saturday.
The Gators avenged consecutive losses to the Gamecocks, including one a couple of years ago that ended with Steve Spurrier and his players celebrating a division title in The Swamp.
“We remember the feeling, how bad it hurt,” center Jon Harrison said. “We even had guys getting emotional over it. We just used that as pure motivation to come out here and completely dominate this team.”
Florida’s latest whateverit- takes win keptMuschamp’s team undefeated and put it on the cusp of the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division title.
The Gators can clinch a spot in the league’s championship game with a win over No. 13 Georgia next week in nearby Jacksonville.
Florida won this one with turnovers, stellar defense and more halftime adjustments— the kind of successful tweaks that are making the former UT coordinator and his staff seem like the right fit in Gainesville.
The Gators finished 7- 6 last season, barely avoiding the program’s first losing season since 1979.
The struggles had outsiders questioning whetherMuschamp could get Florida back to national prominence.
He’s got the team there now— even if it hasn’t always been pretty.
“We’re on ourway to being what Florida used to be, what Florida’s known for,” Harrison said. “We hope to accomplish that this season.” Ark.- Pine Bluff 4 1 Southern 2 3 Prairie View 2 3 Texas Southern 1 4 Grambling St. 0 5 East Alabama A& M 5 1 Jackson St. 4 2 Alabama St. 4 2 Alcorn St. 3 3 Miss. Valley St. 2 3 Saturday’s results Prairie View 52........ Alcorn St. 37 Grambling St. 22..... Lynchburg 7 Jackson St. 14...... MVSU 7 ( 2OT) Ark.- Pine Bluff 50... Southern 21 SOUTHLAND 5 2 3 4 2 5 1 6 1 6 6 1 4 4 4 3 3 5 2 5 SE Louisiana 3 0 Cent. Arkansas 4 1 Sam Hou. St. 3 1 SFA 2 1 N’western St. 1 2 McNeese St. 1 3 Lamar 0 3 Nicholls St. 0 3 Saturday’s results Sam Hou. 45 ..... McNeese St. 10 SFA 44 ................... Nicholls St. 10 Cent. Arkansas 24 ....... Lamar 10 3 4 6 2 5 2 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 5 1 5
Prairie View 52, Alcorn State 37— De’Auntre Smiley threwfour touchdown passes to lead the Panthers to a big homecoming victory over the Braves.
Fred Anderson ran for 103 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers, who built a 38- 10 lead. Smiley had scoring passes of 37 yards to Jacoby Anderson, 46 yards to Greg Thurmond, 50 yards to Deandre Cooper and 5 yards to Olantunde Idowu.
SamHouston State 45, McNeese State 10— Richard Sincere rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns, and Timothy Flanders added 105 yards rushing and another score to lead the Bearkats past the Cowboys in Huntsville.
SFA 44, Nicholls State 10 — BradyAttaway threw five touchdown passes as the Lumberjacks beat the Colonels for a homecoming victory. Attawaywas 41 of 65 for 474 yardswith two interceptions. The Lumberjacks led 31- 0 at halftime.
Central Arkansas 24, Lamar 10— Jesse Grandy had four catches for 127 yards, including a gameclinching touchdown grab in the fourth quarter, as the Bears held on in Conway, Ark., for their third straight win.