Rare kicking error seals Gators’ loss
Host Florida can’t overcome missed extra point against LSU
GAINESVILLE — Since the time he stepped on the field at UF, placekicker Eddy Piñeiro has been automatic.
Line up an extra-point attempt and chalk up another one for the Gators. Until Saturday. With his team trailing 17-16 after rallying from a 14-point deficit during the span of nine minutes against LSU, Piñeiro missed his first extra point in 47 tries as a Gator. Neither team would score again to end UF’s three-game win streak and deliver the Tigers a much-needed if not season-saving win.
“You don’t think that’s going to happen,” UF coach Jim McElwain said of Piñeiro’s miscue. “It’s why they don’t give you the automatic one.”
McElwain said Piñeiro’s stunning miss with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter might have resulted from a bad snap. Whatever the reason, McElwain and his players also made clear Piñeiro’s momentum-killing miss did not decide the fate of the No. 21 Gators (3-2, 3-1 SEC).
“We have to finish at the end,” quarterback Feleipe Franks said. “That starts with me.”
The Gators certainly had their chances against the Tigers as a reported crowd of 88,427 looked on during UF’s homecoming game.
Kept on its heels much of the game against LSU’s speed on the perimeter and the play-calling of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the Gators defense held the Tigers to just 36 yards during the fourth quarter and twice gave UF’s offense the ball.
The Gators’ final chance began with 4:01 left in the game from their own 4-yard line. A combination of poor field position, questionable clock management and a young quarterback led to a disorganized drive when UF needed the utmost precision to pull off yet another final-minute win.
The Gators’ chances ended on their own 25 when Franks passes to Brandon Powell were incomplete on third and fourth downs.
“A sense of urgency, it’s pretty obvious that we didn’t have it there,” McElwain said.
The Tigers, on the other hand, played like a team with something to prove.
LSU (4-2, 1-1) entered Saturday coming off a loss to three-touchdown underdog that led fans to call for head coach Ed Orgeron’s job just five games into his tenure.
“You all know it was tough week,” Orgeron said. “Our guys showed resiliency and blocked out the noise. We believed in each other and got back to work.”
Early on, LSU beat the Gators’ defense on the perimeter with jet sweeps.
With UF failing to set the the edge, the Tigers gained 53 yards on three of them, including a 30-yard touchdown by Russell Gage to give LSU a 7-0 lead and end an 11-play, 86-yard drive.
Things looked bleak for the Gators after LSU marched 75 yards on nine plays to stake a 17-3 lead early in the third quarter.
A 47-yard completion to LSU receiver DJ Chark appeared to be an interception by UF cornerback Duke Dawson, but officials ruled the contested 50-50 ball was in Chark’s possession to move the Tigers to the Gators’ 17.
Five straight runs moved LSU to the UF 2, where LSU quarterback Danny Etling completed a touchdown pass to Tory Carter wide open in the right flat.
Despite having shown few positive signs, the Gators’ offense came alive behind its run game. UF compiled 112 rushing yards during the third quarter, scoring twice on short runs by Lamical Perine to cut LSU’s lead to 17-16.
After a 1-yard touchdown run by Perine, Piñeiro shockingly smother-hooked his extrapoint attempt.
McElwain’s team was beaten by a fake field goal in 2015 at LSU and won on a goal-line stand in 2016 in Baton Rouge in a game rescheduled after Hurricane Matthew canceled the original game in Gainesville.
What was expected to be an emotional game delivered a range of them again Saturday.
“It’s a tough one,” McElwain said. “I mean, shoot. It is what it is. Not real happy about it obviously and neither are our guys.
“But we’re also going to find out about this team a little bit, too.”