TAMPA | After losing two consecutive games to Florida State and Alabama, Florida was determined to get things back on track and avoid ending the year on a three-game losing streak for the second straight season.
And behind a strong showing on both sides of the ball - one that saw an effort comparably much better than in last year's 41-7 loss to Michigan in the Citrus Bowl - No. 17 Florida (9-4, 6-2 SEC) got the job done against Iowa (8-5, 6-3 Big Ten), and Jim McElwain earned a Gatorade shower.
With a 30-3 victory Monday against the Hawkeyes at Raymond James Stadium in the Outback Bowl, Florida earned its first bowl victory of the McElwain era and its first in-state bowl victory since the conclusion of the 2011 season.
Now, Instant Analysis now further examines the Gators' victory.
IT WAS OVER WHEN: Florida’s offense used 6:47 of the clock during the third quarter and completed a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped off by a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Austin Appleby to tight end DeAndre Goolsby to take a 17-3 lead over Iowa with 48 seconds remaining in the quarter.
The Gators moved the chains successfully on that drive, thanks to the running game early on and then Appleby connecting with wide receiver Freddie Swain and Goolsby for 24- and 21-yard throws, respectively. Appleby then found Tyrie Cleveland in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown strike, but the play was called back due to an illegal motion. Florida was then flagged 10 yards the next play for an illegal formation. Still, Appleby kept the drive afloat with a 10-yard pass to Antonio Callaway and then his strike to a wide-open Goolsby.
On the following drive, Florida would put the game essentially out of reach when freshman safety Chauncey Gardner intercepted a pass by Iowa signal-caller C.J. Beathard and returned it 58 yards for a score. The pick-six gave Florida a 24-3 lead early in the fourth quarter. Florida would tack on an Eddy Pineiro field goal following another interception by Gardner for a 24-point advantage.
THEY STOLE THE SHOW: This distinction goes to freshman safety Chauncey Gardner, who sealed the game for the Gators with two interceptions - the first a pick-six - to help the Gators to a three-score lead over the Hawkeyes. With all of the concerns about Florida's secondary depth heading into 2017, the Gators certainly have a stud in Gardner who figures to have a bright future in Gainesville in the coming years.
Running back Jordan Scarlett, linebacker Vosean Jospeh and Caleb Brantley also had strong outings for the Gators. Scarlett finished with 94 yards rushing on 14 carries (6.7 YPC), Joseph finished with six tackles, a TFL and a pass breakup in a starting role, and Brantley logged a sack to go along with three tackles. Brantley, a likely top-40 selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, showcased a good effort Monday and played with plenty of intensity in the interior.
THESE STATS DON'T LIE: Florida's offense out-gained Iowa's 331-226, while the Gators defense held the Hawkeyes to a 4-of-16 clip on third down. Meanwhile, Iowa entered the game ranked ninth in red zone conversions but came up scoreless on two of three trips Monday, thanks to a missed field goal that sailed wide right and then a goal-line stand by the Gators.
------
* Cassidy: What is ailing Florida's recruiting?
* Alley Discussion: Why isn't Florida recruiting better
* Arm top uncommitted prospects features a few UF targets
* Florida-Iowa discussion thread
* Updates: Jim McElwain Outback Bowl postgame press conference
------
WHAT A PLAY: As the Gators went into the two-minute drill near the end of the first half, running back Mark Thompson made one of Florida’s most impressive offensive plays of the 2016 season. On a screen pass from Appleby, Thompson evaded a tackle by No. 41 and then jumped over No. 14 as he raced down the right sideline. Two more Iowa defenders tried tackling him but missed on their dives, and then Thompson stiff-armed another Hawkeyes player. Thompson was then off the races, eventually punching in an 85-yard touchdown to give Florida a 10-3 lead with 1:46 left in the half. Thompson’s 85-yard catch is the longest in the history of the Outback Bowl.
Early in the fourth quarter, Gardner followed in Ahmad Black’s footsteps and came through with a big-time pick-six, extending the Gators’ lead to 24-3 with 14:44 remaining. Duke Dawson came through with an assist on the play, laying a hit on an Iowa receiver to see the ball bounce off his hands and land in the direction of Gardner.
The Florida defense’s goal-line stand midway through the second quarter also deserves notice. After Beathard was called a yard short of the goal-line on a 6-yard run on third down, safety Marcell Harris got in the backfield on the next play for a key stop, aggressively tackling LeShun Daniels Jr. by the legs.
THIS MATCH-UP PROVED KEY: Although Iowa managed to rack up some yardage on the ground in part due to the Gators’ lack of depth at linebacker, the secondary didn’t allow Beathard and the Iowa passing attack to get much going. Beathard finished just 7-of-23 passing for 55 yards and no touchdowns against three interceptions – two recorded by Gardner and the last by linebacker Daniel McMillian - as the Hawkeyes were one-dimensional on offense.
Stay tuned with ITG, as we provide more post-game coverage of Florida’s Outback Bowl victory against Iowa.
------
Thank you for reading this Inside the Gators article. To discuss it, please visit the Alligator Alley Forum.
