‘Just getting going’: Gators rush Rebels’ hopes
Nov 23, 2024, 04:07 PM ET
GAINESVILLE, Fla.– Coach Billy Napier and his group did something no one at Florida had carried out in nearly twenty years. It could be the turning point for a once-proud program that clearly slipped in current years.DJ Lagway
tossed two goal passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a rating, and the Gators upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention.Florida (6-5, 4-4 SEC
), which topped LSU last Saturday in the Swamp, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the very first time given that 2008.
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“We’re simply getting started,” stated Napier, who is anticipated back for a fourth season in 2025. “This belongs to the big-picture journey. Belief is the most effective thing worldwide.”
It marked Florida’s second-largest upset win in the previous 45 seasons, behind a victory at No. 16 LSU in 2016 (14-point underdogs). It also was the Gators’ first win as a double-digit home underdog in the previous 45 seasons.Ole Miss(8-3
, 4-3), which closed as a 13.5-point favorite at ESPN BET, lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. The Rebels ranked ninth in the most recent CFP rankings and needed only to prevent stumbling down the stretch against Florida and lowly Mississippi State to clinch an area in the playoff field.
“Obviously a lot was at stake, and we didn’t come through,” coach Lane Kiffin said. “A lot of missed out on opportunities.”
Kiffin’s team had a miscue-filled day: 0-for-3 on trips inside the red zone; a season-high 3 turnovers; 3-for-14 on third downs; and a season-high five dropped passes in spite of best weather condition.
“Very uncommon,” Kiffin said.Still, Ole Miss had chances late. But Jaxson Dart tossed interceptions to end the group’s last 2 drives. Bryce Thornton, beaten for a goal in the very first half, picked off both. The 2nd one came with 17 seconds remaining and set up a raucous celebration by defenders in the end zone.Dart completed 24 of 41 passes for 323 lawns, with 2 TDs and the 2
picks. He was sacked 4 times and also rushed 14 times for a team-high 71 lawns. “You look at the way we played, we had a chip on our shoulder for sure,”Florida defensive deal with Camera Jackson said.Dart, on the other hand, excused the efficiency.” I’m sorry. I’m sorry to my teammates.
I’m sorry to my coaches. Sorry for the fans,”he stated. “Can’t lose these games. This one’s going to harm for an actually long period of time. That’s all I can truly state. I’m sorry.”The Rebels probably would have had a comfy lead had it not been for duplicated failures inside the 20-yard line. Protective take on J.J. Pegues, a 325-pound damaging ball out of the backfield, was stopped on two fourth-down runs inside the 20-yard line, and Caden Davis missed a 34-yard basket in the second quarter.Ole Miss’drops were outright, consisting of at least three that probably would have been touchdowns.Florida was a lot more efficient.
Lagway finished 10 of 17 passes for 180 yards, with an interception. He made 3 tosses with protectors draped
all over him.”Those were the plays of the game,”Napier said.Johnson had a few of those, too. His 9-yard scoring run from the Wildcat formation was big and followed he missed out on most of the previous four games.” I concentrated on grinding and attempting to work my way back, “Johnson stated.” Recently I got a couple carries, and today I shot to the moon.
“Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.