Florida is coming off its most convincing win against an SEC opponent in second-year coach Jim McElwain’s tenure.
So McElwain is curious to see how the Gators (2-0, 1-0 SEC) handle prosperity this week against North Texas following Saturday’s 45-7 rout of Kentucky.
“The challenge moving forward is to see how this team is going to respond,” McElwain said. “Kinda the m/o of this program is you play really high or really low and not consistently.”
North Texas represents a trap game, considering a big showdown with rival Tennessee looms in two weeks. The Mean Green (1-1) are coming off a 41-20 win over Bethune-Cookman.
“Great teams, they learn how to go about their business and prepare and be proud of the way they play regardless of the opponent,” McElwain said. “They realize they have so many opportunities to do this.”
After struggling on offense in its season opener against Massachusetts, Florida’s offense broke out against Kentucky. The Gators gained 564 yards of total offense, their most in an SEC game since gaining 571 yards against Vanderbilt on Nov. 3, 2001. Florida broke a string of 10 straight games scoring under 30 points and made big plays in the passing game. Sophomore quarterback Luke Del Rio passed for 320 yards and four TDs.
Del Rio said it will be important for the Gators to guard against complacency this week against a non-conference opponent.
“The biggest goal every week, and it doesn’t change, is to go 1-0,” Del Rio said. “What you learn in a game like Saturday (against Kentucky) is that it doesn’t matter who you play, it matters how you execute the game plan and the intensity and the enthusiasm to which you are playing. If you worry about the other team and not doing your job, then you are not going to play well.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Luke Del Rio showed progress in his second career start against Kentucky, completing 19 of 32 passes for 320 yards with 4 TDs and 1 interception. Del Rio’s 320 yards passing were the most for a Gator QB in an SEC game since Chris Leak threw for 324 yards against Arkansas in 2004. Del Rio has 6 TDs and 1 interception on the season. “I’m not ready to put him in the Gator Hall of Fame yet, the NFL Hall of Fame,” McElwain said. “But I think he’s learning how to play the position.
–RB Lamical Perine made the most of his carries on Saturday against Kentucky. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound true freshman rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries and scored his first career TD on a 28-yard catch and run on a screen pass.
–WR Antonio Callaway had a career-best 129 yards receiving on 5 catches and a TD. The speedy sophomore caught a 78-yard TD on a deep ball from QB Luke Del Rio that sent the crowd at The Swamp into a frenzy. Callaway has two TD catches this season and 6 TD catches in his UF career.
–LB Alex Anzalone had another strong game with a team-high 6 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Anzalone has 2.5 sacks on the season. “Alex is a special player and I’m sure glad he’s healthy and playing at the level he’s playing,” McElwain said.
–CB Quincy Wilson made a nice play on the ball for the first of UF’s three interceptions. It was Wilson’s fourth career pick. The junior should have more balls targeted in his direction with the return of preseason All-American CB Jalen Tabor on the opposite side of the field.