UF blows late lead, loses to Aggies

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

Isaiah Spiller rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 21 Texas A&M beat fourth-ranked Florida 41-38 on Seth Small’s 26-yard field goal as time expired Saturday.

Spiller helped get the Aggies get into position for Small’s decisive kick, giving Jimbo Fisher his first win over a top-five team since taking over as Texas A&M coach.

“I think this is a real big confidence-booster,” Spiller said. “I feel like we really gained our identity.”

Fisher brushed off the notion that it was a signature win or it meant more than anything he’s done in three seasons in College Station.

“It’s a good win,” he said. “It’s a big win ... but they’re all big wins.”

Kellen Mond threw a 51-yard pass to Caleb Chapman for a tying TD with about 4 1⁄ minutes to go.

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The Gators were driving when Buddy Johnson forced a fumble by Malik Davis, and it was recovered by DeMarvin Leal to set up the game-ending field goal.

Mond passed for 338 yards and three touchdowns to help the Aggies (2-1, 2-1 SEC) down the previously undefeated Gators (2-1, 2-1)

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask had 312 yards passing and four TDs, but the Gators were done in by the late mistake and another poor performance by their defense.

“We’re playing 10 SEC games in a row,” Florida coach Dan Mullen said.

“We have to get over this one quick. It’s more like an NFL schedule.”

Mullen was disappointed that the Gators allowed A&M to convert 12 of 15 third-down opportunities.

“We’re going to evaluate a lot of things defensively, and our ability to make plays and get off the field,” he said.

Florida led 28-24 early in the fourth when Spiller struck again, running 19 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-and-2 play. Spiller bounced off several defenders before waltzing into the end zone and then hitting the Florida fan section with a Gator chomp.

Florida’s Evan McPherson kicked a tying 53-yard field goal with about 9½ minutes remaining, setting the stage for a wild finish.

Florida play host to No. 17 LSU next week in the first of two straight home games.