If you're reading this blog of the football game instead of watching it on telelvision or in person, I apologize. Gainesville stands still for the Gators today, and UF should come out of this one with a victory. Enjoy the live blog below.
GAME OVER
Yeah, that was pretty much a slaughter. Hawaii fans who traveled all this way are probably leaving the game incredibly unhappy. The Gators take this game by a 56-10 final score thanks to a late Hawaii touchdown. Next up: The "rival" University of Miami Hurricanes.
FOURTH QUARTER - 4:00 remaining
Mercy rules would be good for situations like this. It's all but over.
FOURTH QUARTER - 9:38 remaining
Well, there goes the shutout. Hawaii had its best drive of the game despite their third-string quarterback, Inoke Funaki, geting beat up out of bounds twice, once for a 15-yard personal foul penalty. Hawaii's kicker hit a 30-yard field goal. The Gators' defense must be quite upset that it has allowed an entire three points to this Hawaii team.
One quarter in, this looked like it might be close. But once the second quarter began, it was all over.
END THIRD QUARTER
If it wasn't out of hand before, it is now. Ahmad Black makes an interception on the Gators' 20-yard line and runs it all the way back for a touchdown. That's his second interception of the day, and UF's second returned for a touchdown today. UF has scored 28 points in both the second and third quarters now. Someone needs to put Hawaii out of its misery. This is getting painful to watch.
THIRD QUARTER - 2:52 remainaing
Okay, this is getting out of hand. A long passing touchdown from Tebow to Louis Murphy gave UF its sixth touchdown of the day, and then a Cameron Newton rush from the 2-yard line brought the Gators' total to 49.
The UF defense has been pretty strong since the first two, and Hawaii can't seem to get anything going. Hawaii changed quarterbacks on its last drive, but to no effect.
THIRD QUARTER - 12:16 remaining
Jeff Demps is ridiculously fast. The freshman speedster took his second career carry all the way to the end zone from the Gators' 38-yard line. Once he got past the linebackers, there was no way the safeties were catching him. He outran everyone on the field. Back during practice, Meyer was screaming "speed, speed, speed!" when he did the same thing. That 10.02-second 100-meter dash quickness is definitely showing itself now.
HALFTIME
That second quarter was complete domination from the Gators. Rainey had himself a nice quarter with a big 33-yard touchdown run. The orange and blue are running away with this one.
SECOND QUARTER - 5:35 remaining
Hawaii's fourth possession ended in a turnover yet again. Alexander, pressured by Joe Haden, fumbled the ball on his own. Haden pounced on it, and UF got the ball right back. Major Wright also had a nasty hit on Hawaii's running back on that drive, leaving him on the field for about half a minute. UF went 3 and out on that drive, however. The first play was a bomb to Deonte Thompson in the end zone, but the ball was just too long for the wide receiver's outstretched hands, and fell incomplete.
After Hawaii got the ball back, the Warriors drove for a bit, but then punted. The punt went well short of Brandon James, but he caught it on the second bounce and ran down the right sideline all the way to the end zone. At about the 30 yard line, he cut back in to the center of the field, juking out two Hawaii defenders. He was gone after that. He is now one punt return touchdown shy of the school record.
SECOND QUARTER - 10:47 REMAINING
And he comes the scoring. On second down after a team sack, Alexander again overthrows his receiver on the right side, and Major Wright capitalizes. The UF safety intercepts the ball at the 32-yard line, and runs in back for a touchdown. Here comes the UF rout.
SECOND QUARTER - 11:39 REMAINING
Tim Tebow just made his first dazzling play of the year. On an option to the right side, he had no chance to pitch the ball. He faked the pitch, drawing a defender to his running back, then cut back left around the field. He broke one tackle, then outran the Hawii defense on his way to the end zone. Fans celebrated a touchdown, but the referees ruled him out of bounds at the 2. After a video review, the call on the field stood.
On the next play, Tebow handed off to running back Brandon James, who jumped well over the UH line for the touchdown. The Gators strike first, and go ahead 7-0.
END FIRST QUARTER : UF 0, Hawaii 0
Hawaii has absolutely been the better team so far, as UF's offense has really consisted of two big plays. The Gators are finally driving now thanks to a huge 38-yard catch down the left sideline from tight end Tate Casey. UF has the ball at Hawaii's 42 yard line. We're still scoreless, but that should change soon. Just when UF was getting momentum and the crowd was behind the Gators, the quarter ended.
FIRST QUARTER - 1:48 remaining
After UF punted, Hawaii again drove on the Gators. Two more offsides penalties on UF helped the Warriors get down field, but quarterback Greg Alexander overthrew one of his receivers in the end zone, and UF safety Ahmad Black slid on the field and made an interception. That drive really looked like Hawaii was going to score, but a turnover kills it.
FIRST QUARTER - 7:33 remaining
The Gators' first drive was looking good until they crossed the 50-yard line. They decided to go for it on 4th-and-1, but a false start from Riley Cooper pushed them back five yards, and they opted to punt. Chris Rainey's 17-yard scamper down the left sideline was the highlight of the drive.
Hawaii looked great on its opening drive, and the Warriors were helped out by two Gators offsides calls. But after cross the 50-yard line, Hawaii stalled. A sack from Lawrence Marsh, where he broke through two UH offensivle linemen, on 3rd and 10 ended the drive, and Hawaii punted, resulting in a UF touchback. UF coach Urban Meyer can't be happy with the two penalties, but he might just chalk it up to first-game jitters.
PRE-GAME 3
The public address announcer in the press box just said that it was currently "drizzling," but it's more of a downpour. Many fans are heading for the concourses, while others are toughing it out in ponchos.
The national anthem is complete as well as the school songs. We are about seven minutes from kickoff.
PRE-GAME 2
Some serious cloud cover just came over the stadium, considerably dropping the temperature. And now it's raining. This should make for an interesting game. Welcome to Florida, where it never stops raining.
PRE-GAME
We're about half an hour from kickoff, and the stadium is starting to fill up. I don't blame people from waiting to get here, especially students, because it is sweltering outside. The Hawaii fans are almost completely filling up their section already. From the press box, it's very easy to see everyone in the stands waving fans in their faces to keep from melting.
Both teams are practicing on their halves of the field right now, with UF practicing a passing skeleton and Hawaii working on the run game. UF wide receiver Percy Harvin is in full uniform, but will not play. I can't see linebacker Brandon Spikes, but I assume he's also in full uniform. Spikes is also out for this one.
