Gators Stun No. 11 Vols, 29-16

A strong first-half performance from the Gators overwhelms the Volunteers en route to a 29-16 upset victory.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Billy Napier has knocked off a rival.

After struggling against the Gators' most prominent SEC foes during his first campaign in Gainesville — going 0-4 in 2022 against Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and Florida State — the second-year head coach put a tally in the win column against one of those opponents with a 29-16 upset of the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night.

Running back Trevor Etienne's career-high 172 rushing yards and a stout performance by Austin Armstrong's defense carried the Gators to success on the night.

Florida opened the contest targeting promising true freshman Eugene Wilson III via the passing game. His five receptions for 45 yards proved prominent as Florida moved the ball into striking distance.

However, it ended with a missed field goal and resulted in a game-ending injury for Wilson.

Allowing a six-play, 71-yard drive in 2:01 from Tennessee in response, which included a 41-yard reception by Vols wideout Squirrel White after getting behind UF safety Miguel Mitchell to set up a touchdown pass from Joe Milton to Ramel Keyton on the next play, the Gators fell victim to the up-tempo attack.

However, Florida answered quickly on the ensuing drive as Etienne found a hole along the left side of the line of scrimmage, bouncing off would-be tacklers before outrunning Kamal Hadden to post a critical 62-yard score.

The contest flipped heavily in the Gators' favor from that point in the first half on, as Billy Napier's squad posted 26 unanswered points to head into the locker room with a 26-7 lead. 

Montrell Johnson Jr. and Etienne supported the onslaught of scores with  159 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns combined in the first half. Quarterback Graham Mertz added a one-yard rushing score of his own after Florida cornerback Devin Moore's interception and 38-yard return — paired with a 15-yard penalty against the Vols — set the Gators up in a goal-to-go scenario.

The pick was Milton's first since transferring to Tennessee in 2021.

In the third quarter, the Gators' offense cooled significantly compared to its form in the first 30 minutes. Despite failing to move past midfield in the two drives it saw, Florida kept the Volunteers at arm's length due to a bend-don't-break defensive effort. 

Placekicker Trey Smack knocked through a 27-yard field goal on the first possession of the fourth quarter to extend the Gators' lead to 19, which ultimately proved to be Florida's exclamation point on the upset victory.

A 55-yard touchdown throw from Milton to veteran wide receiver Bru McCoy — who beat true freshman Ja'Keem Jackson on a go-route down the Florida sideline — with 8:41 remaining pulled Tennessee back within two scores. It provided life for the Vols to make a potential late-game surge.

But, similar to the run Anthony Richardson led Florida on late in Knoxville in 2022, it came in vain.

Florida finished with 419 total yards and a 35:39-22:21 advantage in the time-of-possession battle, forcing the contest to move at the slow, methodical pace desired from a Napier-coached team.

The Gators will remain in Gainesville for their next contest, playing host to Charlotte on Sept. 23. 

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