AUBURN, Ala. — For the second straight year, the Gators’ sizzling start has given way to an October meltdown.
Undefeated beginnings in both 2010 and 2011 have been precursors to three-game losing streaks; the first time Florida has lost three straight games in consecutive seasons since 1950-51.
And, like in 2010, the third loss was a low-scoring, ghastly slugfest devoid of big plays or excitement for UF. Of the game’s 27 drives, 17 went for four plays or fewer, as both teams struggled to establish any type of rhythm.
The Florida offense could never get off the ground, gaining just 194 yards as a result of spotty quarterback play and an inconsistent running game in Saturday’s 17-6 loss at No. 19 Auburn (5-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference).
As was the case after a similarly grisly loss to Mississippi State last season, Florida (4-3, 2-3 SEC) now looks to the bye week for a way to salvage 2011.
“The open week’s coming at a good time,” coach Will Muschamp said. “We’ve got to do a lot.”
Chief among UF’s bye-week goals is getting healthy.
Sophomore linebacker Ronald Powell and senior running back Jeff Demps both missed the game with injuries. Sophomore wide receiver Andre Debose and senior guard Dan Wenger were hurt on Saturday. Even junior kicker Caleb Sturgis was sidelined by injury, just another parallel to last year’s Mississippi State loss.
And that’s to say nothing of senior quarterback John Brantley’s ankle, which has hindered the Gators in ways few would have predicted before the season. Florida has thrown for 242 yards in the 10 quarters since Brantley was hurt on the final offensive play before halftime against Alabama.
Brantley has upgraded from crutches to a walking boot, and Muschamp is optimistic he could return against Georgia.
“I’m hoping so,” Muschamp said. “We’ll see what happens. I don’t know. His rehab’s going very well.”
Saturday’s loss illustrated just how desperately the Gators need him. Florida’s offense had only 194 yards, its lowest total since 1999, when UF had 114 against Alabama in the SEC Championship game.
Freshman Jacoby Brissett made his second consecutive start but completed just 5 of 10 passes for 45 yards before he was pulled at halftime.
On his first throw, Brissett dropped back, pumped to senior running back Chris Rainey on his right, hesitated and then unleashed a 54-yard bomb that was intercepted by T’Sharvan Bell. Brissett’s intended receiver, senior Deonte Thompson, was open if Brissett had thrown it a moment sooner. But a split-second hesitation cost him.
With the exception of a 25-yard laser to Frankie Hammond, Brissett was relegated to mostly screens and dump offs, driving an offense that racked up a mere 104 yards in the first half.
“We needed to do something different from what we were doing,” Muschamp said.
“Continue to do the same stuff, you’re going to get the same results. ... Jacoby’s play was nothing that we were disappointed with. We just weren’t moving the ball effectively enough.”
The Gators turned to Driskel, something Muschamp said they would do at one point or another in the game.
But the results were mostly the same.
Driskel completed 9 of his 18 attempts for 75 yards. He had a chance to erase Auburn’s 7-6 lead on a trick play with 8:17 remaining in the third quarter and the ball at the Tigers’ 48-yard line, but he overshot sophomore tight end Jordan Reed, who was running wide open down the seam.
After Driskel caught the flea-flicker pitch from Rainey, Reed was streaking down the middle at Auburn’s 7-yard line, with sophomore Demetruce McNeal 4 yards behind in coverage.
But Driskel’s pass landed well beyond Reed’s desperate grasp, and UF’s best opportunity at the end zone was lost.
“It was wide open,” Muschamp said. “We need to hit that.”
Both UF quarterbacks completed 50 percent of their passes, but neither Driskel’s 4.2 yards per attempt nor Brissett’s 4.5 was enough to overcome a running game that amassed just 66 yards.
“Both guys didn’t do anything that really killed us in the game, but again didn’t do enough to really help,” Muschamp said.
The loss drops Florida to 2-3 in the SEC, two games behind South Carolina and Georgia in the East division.
While the Gators’ goals are not yet out of reach, an off-week followed by a loss to the Bulldogs would almost certainly seal Florida’s fate.
“We could definitely use the bye week to get everybody back healthy, get everybody rested up, because we’ve got a long stretch ahead of us,” junior linebacker Jon Bostic said. “What happened, happened. So we’re just trying to get prepared for Georgia.”
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
After falling to Auburn 17-6 on Saturday, Florida will need South Carolina or Georgia to lose a game to have any hope of winning the Southeastern Conference East division.
