Antonio Callaway turned and propelled himself through the air like a rocket, extending his arms as high as they’d go to grab the football. The pair of LSU defenders on either side of him didn’t have time to react.
He had it — the touchdown, the tie and the momentum — in his hands.
And then he didn’t.
As he made his way back to Earth, LSU corner Dwayne Thomas jabbed the ball out with a punch. Callaway cratered into the ground, holding his head in disappointment before getting up. Thomas, meanwhile, opened and closed his arms in triumph to signal the incompletion.
That play was the pivotal moment of last year’s Florida-LSU matchup. Trailing 28-35, the Gators could’ve tied the game if Callaway would’ve held on.
Instead, UF lost by the same score. But this season, with another matchup at Death Valley on Saturday, No. 23 Florida (7-2, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) is hoping to avenge last season’s loss.
“We just gave up too many big plays last year,” Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor said.
“They didn’t do nothing special. You get a flea-flicker, a lollipop pass before the half and a fake field goal — it’s hard to beat that.”
Saying the Tigers “didn’t do nothing special” might not do the game justice. No. 16 LSU (6-3, 4-2 SEC) did plenty of special things.
For example, with 27 seconds left until halftime and the ball at midfield, LSU quarterback Brandon Harris dropped back with the rush in his face.
Caleb Brantley got there first, forcing Harris to run right. There he met Jordan Sherit, who got a grasp on Harris but couldn’t hold on.
After escaping, the LSU quarterback sailed the ball as far as he could, finding wideout Malachi Dupre open after safety Marcus Maye slipped and fell.
Touchdown Tigers.
Florida had its share of odd plays as well, including Antonio Callaway nearly slipping and falling on a punt return before outrunning a pair of Tigers and taking it 72 yards for a score.
There was also his desperation catch with one knee already on the ground that kept Florida in the game late.
But it’s not either of those plays or even his pivotal drop that Callaway remembers most about facing the Tigers a season ago.
“They got a fluke,” Callaway said. “The kicker, they had a fake field goal.”
If there were one play aside from Callaway’s drop Florida wishes it could have back, it would be the one Callaway himself is referencing.
With the game tied 28-28 late in the fourth quarter, LSU brought out kicker Trent Domingue to attempt a lead-taking 33-yard field goal.
At the snap, Florida’s defenders shot through LSU’s linemen, reaching the backfield just in time to watch holder Brad Kragthorpe float a pass to the sprinting Domingue.
The kicker bobbled it but held on, out-running Vernon Hargreaves to reach the end zone for the deciding score.
“It was close. Came down to the last second,” Callaway said. “They earned it, though.”
This year, Florida is looking for vengeance. LSU is always considered a rivalry game, but after what happened to the Gators last season as well as Hurricane Matthew forcing this year’s game to be played in Baton Rouge, UF players said the game’s intensity feels more personal than usual.
“There is definitely a sense of rivalry,” offensive lineman Fred Johnson said, “and it’s a strong one and a fluid one.”
Contact Ethan Bauer at ebauer@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @ebaueri.
Antonio Callaway lies on the grass during Florida's win against South Carolina on Nov. 12, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
