3 KEY PLAYS SWAMP STUDSOn first and 10 at the UF 25-yard line in the second quarter, LSU signal-caller Zach Mettenberger tried to throw to his left but dropped the football. UF defensive tackle Leon Orr, aware of the blunder, immediately landed on the football and recovered the fumble. Unfortunately for the Gators’ offense, they

went three-and-out on its following drive.

KEY STAT: 6 OF 17Florida went 6 of 17 on third down Saturday, as the Gators came up short rushing and passing the football. UF signal-caller Tyler Murphy was sacked twice by LSU on third down. Meanwhile, the Tigers converted 5 of their 9 third-down opportunities.

STANDINGSTyler Murphy 9Solomon Patton 5Mack Brown 3 Dante Fowler Jr. 3Kelvin Taylor 3Dominique Easley 2Matt Jones 2Antonio Morrison 2

TURNING POINTAfter a Francisco Velez field goal cut Florida’s deficit to 14-6 with 12:11 left in the game, running back Jeremy Hill and LSU responded with a methodical drive. Hill rushed for 45 yards on four carries on the ensuing drive, which saw Tigers kicker Colby Delahoussaye sink a 31-yard field goal to give LSU a two-score lead.

After tailback Matt Jones left the game with a left knee injury in the first quarter, Kelvin Taylor sparked the Florida run-ning game. The freshman rushed for 52 yards on 10 carries and helped keep the Gators in contention with the Tigers.

With only 6:38 remaining during the fourth quarter, Florida’s chances looked finished on fourth and 5. But punter Kyle Christy faked the kick and threw a 14-yard pass to linebacker Neiron Ball down the middle for the first down, extending the drive. However, Florida failed to produce any points on the possession and

lost the game.

Morrison, a sophomore, had one of his most productive games as a Gator on Saturday. He recorded a team-high and career-best 12 tackles – 11 of them assisted. Florida’s defense was shaky at times against LSU, but Morrison was

the unit’s most consistent performer.

Florida had two downs to cut its deficit to one score from the LSU 25-yard line late in the game. But on both attempts, LSU sacked quarterback Tyler Murphy. Cornerback Jalen Mills brought down Murphy on third and 15, while linebacker Kendell Beckwith sacked the Florida quarterback on fourth and 27 — effectively

ending any shot UF had at a comeback.

In his first college game, Francisco Velez nailed two field goals from 44 and 27 yards out. With Austin Hardin and Brad Phillips demoted, Velez now has the edge on starting kicking duties. Florida has been shaky at kicker, and

special teams coordinator Jeff Choate will look to Velez to solve the Gators’ kicking woes.

6 17

LOUISIANAFLORIDA

01

142

03

34

17F

3 0 0 3 6

Kelvin Taylor

RB(3 points)

Antonio Morrison

LB(2 points)

Francisco Velez

K(1 point)