Official Game Thread Week 5: Florida Gators vs Eastern Washington Eagles, 10/2/2022

[Escambia94]

This is just the seventh time since 1996 that Florida has passed for 350+ yards and rushed for 250+ yards in the same game. Florida is one of five FBS teams to accomplish this feat in 2022 and one of two teams
(Appalachian State) to do so in each of the last two seasons (Florida vs Samson 2021).

 

[Escambia94]

Florida recorded three touchdowns of 60-plus yards for the first time since 1995.

 

[Escambia94]

Florida recorded a 75-yard touchdown pass and 75-yard touchdown rush in the same game for the third time since 1996
- Oct. 2, 2022 vs EWU
- Sept. 11, 2021 at USF
- Sept. 15, 2012 at Tennessee

 

[Escambia94]

Ricky Pearsall’s 76-yard TD run is the longest rush by an FBS WR this season and is tied for the third-longest run by a UF wide receiver in the last 25 years. This was the longest since Josh Hammond’s 86-yard TD rush vs. Kentucky on Sept. 14, 2019.

 

[Escambia94]

Florida amassed 400-plus total yards for the 20th time in its last 28 games including 33 of the last 47 contests.

 

[Escambia94]

Of Richardson’s 19-career touchdowns (11 passing, 8 rushing), he now has:
•4 scores of 70-plus yards
•7 scores of 40-plus yards
•9 scores of 25-plus yards
•3 75-yard TD passes
•4 40-plus-yard TD passes
•5 30-plus-yard TD passes
•6 25-plus yard TD passes

 

[Escambia94]

Debuts on Offense: RB Eddie Battle, WR Caleb Douglas, OL Jalen Farmer, OL Jordan Herman, RB Carlson Joseph, QB Jalen Kitna, WR Taylor Spierto, OL Christian Williams

 

[Escambia94]

The Gators recorded two sacks against Eastern Washington. Florida’s 162 sacks since 2018 season ranks second in the SEC and fifth nationally – trailing only Clemson (201), Pittsburgh (199), Alabama (183) and Oklahoma State (166).

Florida ranked tied-for-14th in the FBS and 2nd in the SEC with 34 sacks last season.

 

[Escambia94]

Explosive Plays (17)

● Justin Shorter (from Anthony Richardson): 75-yard TD reception, first quarter
● Richardson: 45-yard rush, first quarter
● Keon Zipperer (from Richardson): 27-yard reception, first quarter
● Zipperer (from Richardson): 20-yard reception, second quarter
● Xzavier Henderson (from Richardson): 19-yard reception, second quarter
● Ricky Pearsall (from Jalen Kitna): 22-yard reception, second quarter
● Pearsall: 76-yard TD rush, second quarter
● Trent Whittemore (from Richardson): 23-yard reception, third quarter
● Henderson (from Richardson): 21-yard TD rush, second quarter
● Daejon Reynolds (from Richardson): 54-yard reception, third quarter
● Caleb Douglas (from Kitna): 62-yard TD reception, third quarter
● Lorenzo Lingard (from Kitna): 15-yard reception, fourth quarter
● Reynolds (from Kitna): 20-yard reception, fourth quarter
● Lingard: 11-yard TD rush, fourth quarter
● Kahleil Jackson (from Kitna): 20-yard reception, fourth quarter
● Lingard: 20-yard rush, fourth quarter
● Eddie Battle: 26-yard rush, fourth quarter

 

[Escambia94]

The Gators have now played 89 total games against FCS opponents. Florida improves to 68-17-4 (.787) in those games. Florida extends their FCS win streak to seven-straight games and is now 22-1 against FCS opponents since 1981.

 

[Escambia94]

The Gators are now 2-0 in all-time games on Sunday. Florida’s last-known Sunday game was on Jan. 2, 1977 vs. Texas A&M in the Sun Bowl.

 

[Escambia94]

Announced attendance was 72,462, which is larger than the following:
- Miami’s scUM Pond maximum capacity of 65,326
- FSU’s Erector Set average capacity of 69,500
- The Swamp maximum capacity before the 1991 expansion from 72,000 to 83,000 (currently 88,548 after 2003 expansion)

 

[DRU2012]

NOTE:
A "special combined edition" of Gator Breakdown is airing on YouTube, Twitter and elsewhere right now--and it is actually one of the standout episodes, I think.
It is half-over now in its first showing, but you can of course catch it now on Twitter or simply watch it from the start anytime on YouTube.
I recommend this one for the further, in-depth discussion of all the things WE have noted along the way here before, during and after the game--and a few things we didn't really get to but bear noting.

 

[DRU2012]

Florida recorded three touchdowns of 60-plus yards for the first time since 1995.

Florida recorded a 75-yard touchdown pass and 75-yard touchdown rush in the same game for the third time since 1996
- Oct. 2, 2022 vs EWU
- Sept. 11, 2021 at USF
- Sept. 15, 2012 at Tennessee

I KNEW this one reminded me of a Spurrier-era game! (I even repeated that SS-line DURING the game : "...Hung half a hunnert on 'em!")

 

[Leakfan12]

I can't believe the Defense allowed 400 yards against that team.

 

[Escambia94]

I can't believe the Defense allowed 400 yards against that team.

This defense featured a lot of new faces. We need these new faces to step up as we enter the SEC gauntlet. The defense was pretty good against Utah and even Kentucky, but not so good after that. There is no guarantee that fresh blood will fix the defense, but it might help.

 

[DRU2012]

I can't believe the Defense allowed 400 yards against that team.

This defense featured a lot of new faces. We need these new faces to step up as we enter the SEC gauntlet. The defense was pretty good against Utah and even Kentucky, but not so good after that. There is no guarantee that fresh blood will fix the defense, but it might help.

Good "Point/Counter Point", guys.
BOTH of these are valid.
This season, in case anyone hasn't gotten it by now, is all about the PROCESS of "learn and grow"...
See it that way, and it at least all becomes more understandable--if not outright more BEARABLE.
And THAT makes all the subbing in "new guys" in the 2nd half yesterday that much more HOPEFUL a SIGN...not just OF that "learning and growing", but that it will pay off--and possibly sooner than expected. MUCH SOONER.
Like "in the course of this SEASON" sooner, folks.
Which in turn COULD mean our reassention among the CFB "Elite" just MIGHT potentially manifest a year EARLIER here after all!
No promises. Just settle back, wait and SEE.
Things are simply percolating along now...
All WE can do for the moment is just give it space, room to do its thing.