Oct 31, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Treon Harris (3) runs with the ball as Georgia Bulldogs safety Dominick Sanders (24) and cornerback Reggie Wilkerson (9) defends during the second half at EverBank Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida can wrap up its first trip to the SEC title game since 2009 with a win Saturday at home against Vanderbilt.
But for the Gators to wrap up the SEC East, they will need to contend with a stingy Vanderbilt defense that ranks 22nd in the country and allows just 18 points per game.
“We aren’t looking forward to (the SEC title game in) Atlanta, because if we do, we won’t get there,” Florida coach Jim McElwain said. “We just have to look at what we can do today.”
Florida strengthened its hold on the SEC East with a convincing 27-3 win over Georgia last Saturday in Jacksonville. The Gators (7-1, 5-1 SEC) held Georgia to their lowest point total in the rivalry series since shutting out the Bulldogs 27-0 in 1984.
With this week’s Vanderbilt game being homecoming, McElwain said there’s more room for potential distractions.
“There’s a lot of reasons that we might not play good this week,” McElwain said. “We’ll see. I’m excited to see our guys today. I just can’t tell you how proud I am of them and what they’ve done to invest not only in themselves but in this football team and to this university. I think it’s a credit to those guys.”
Florida players have embraced McElwain’s no-nonsense style and attention to detail. The first-year Florida coach from Colorado State has already led the Gators to as many wins as they had all last season.
“One of the first things he told us is it’s not a buy or sell kind of a deal,” Florida junior cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III said. “I’m going to show you the way to do it and if you don’t do it, I’ll find a guy who will.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Treon Harris was off target against Georgia, but came up with big plays when he had to. Harris completed just 3 of his first 13 passes and went 8-of-19 with 155 yards and 1 TD, a 66-yard pass to freshman receiver Antonio Callaway. Harris also had 39 yards rushing but lost a fumble. Asked about Harris’ completion percentage in the Georgia game, McElwain replied: “Well, it’s not good. Shaquille O’Neal might have liked it for his free throw percentage, but — here’s the interesting thing. We’re going to pick this apart. That’s great. You gotta do what you gotta do. But I think at the end of the day, we were on the right side of the scoreboard. We did what it took to win the ballgame. And that’s how we go into every ballgame.”
–RB Kelvin Taylor rushed for 125 yards on 25 carries and two TDs against Georgia, helping lift the Gators to the win. For the season, Taylor has rushed for 584 yards on 3.8 yards per carry with 10 TDs. Taylor’s 10 rushing TDs are the most for a Gator RB since Mike Gillislee had 10 rushing TDs in 2012. “Every time I get close to that goal line, I gotta get that ball in,” Taylor said.
–WR Antonio Callaway overcame a foot injury earlier in the week to come up with another big game against Georgia. Callaway had three catches for 110 yards against the Bulldogs, including a 66-yard TD that put the Gators up 13-0 in the second quarter. Callaway is the first true freshman receiver in UF history to post three 100-yard games in a season and the first receiver since Andre Caldwell (2007) to post back-to-back 100-yard games in SEC play. For the season, Callaway has a team-high 418 yards receiving on 19 catches and four TDs (three receiving, one on punt return).
–LB Jarrad Davis continues to play at a high level for the Gators. Davis had six tackles, 1/2 sack, an interception and a pass breakup against rival Georgia. For the season, Davis is second on the Gators in tackles with 55 with 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one interception.
SERIES HISTORY: Florida leads Vanderbilt 36-10-2 (Last meeting, 2014, 34-10 Florida)
QUOTE TO NOTE: “The seniors, they’re the ones we should take our hats off to. Because those guys are playing really hard. I think it’s about their opportunity to leave a legacy to restore some order. I mean the reason they came here was to play in games that mean something in November. And they’re doing that.” — Gators coach Jim McElwain, on the play of Florida’s senior class this season.
