Florida Gators vs. Miss. State Bulldogs: drive-by-drive updates, recap

This game was over….

Mississippi State was in field goal range and simply needed to burn Florida’s timeouts to win it. Instead, Blake Shapen made a disastrous mistake. He tried to dump it off short and didn’t see defensive lineman Michai Boireau dropping back. The big man went up and came down with it.

Exhale.

Talk about snatching victory from the claws of defeat.

Billy Napier should be tirelessly working on an NIL deal for Boireau if he’s still the head coach on Monday.

Lagway got sacked on a nothing play for a three-and-out. Mississippi State will get the ball and can win on a kick as time expires. Why is every week like this?

Mississippi State needed a touchdown to have a chance, and Florida’s defense was too battered and tired to stop them. Shapen has no fear on some of these deep balls, and a 25-yard run after catch shows that the Gators are losing steam. The offense is going to have to win on the field.

This drive took longer than it needed, thanks to a pair of reviews. The Bulldogs had a touchdown called back, but there was no doubt on Davon Booth’s two-yard punch up the middle.

DJ Lagway and Co. can win it here witha first down or two.

Florida had two jobs this drive: score some points and kill some clock. They got both done.

It wasn’t pretty. DJ Lagway found Hayden Hansen for eight and Jadan Baugh pushed it up the middle for a first down. Then, Mississippi State ran into penalties. First, a personal foul (blindside block) for 15 yards and a first, and then a roughing the passer that left Lagway on the ground for a bit. Thankfully, he got up and found 10 yards before Trey Smack came out for another 50-plus yarder.

Smack already hit from 54 earlier, and he was just as good from 53 yards out. Whatever happened that first week with him is way back in the rearview mirror now.

No need for a long wait this time.

The Bulldogs went 65 yards down the field in five plays to make it a six-point game again. The bulk of the work came on a 46-yard connection between Blake Shapen and Brenen Thompson. Shapen has attacked Florida’s banged-up secondary all day long. Everyone knows the Gators are missing corners and safeties, so expect a lot of this for the rest of the year. If Mississippi State can do it successfully, imagine what Georgia will do.

After the big gain, Florida tried to hold MSU to a field goal. No dice. Davon Booth ran it into the end zone. Any score for Florida puts the Gators in a great position as time dwindles away.

Okay, that was a long break, but Florida just scored to finish off its longest drive of the season — 11 plays, 93 yards. Finishing with three points would have been demoralizing, even if it made it a two-score game. Before we go into the drive, clap it up for the Gators’ defense. Since that score on the opening drive, eight drives have ended in zero points.

Who else but Jadan Baugh got things started for Florida. Back-to-back rushes of 10-plus yards moved the Gators out of their own red zone. Baugh nearly broke one for a massive gain, but he still did his job. Lagway connected three times with three different receivers to move the ball across the 50-yard line — Vernell Brown III for nine, J. Michael Sturdivant for 19 (good to see him invovled) and TJ Abrams for a 26-yarder tip-toe catch. Abrams doesn’t get a ton of snaps, but he will get more after that catch.

Florida went three-and-out. Then, Mississippi State one-upped them by netting a two-yard loss on three plays. You could credit the defense here, but the offense wasn’t sharp for either side.The Gators moved the chains twice after getting the ball back — courtesy of a 12-yard Dallas Wilson catch and 18-yard Vernell Brown III gain. Almost half of those yards came after the catch. A sack stopped the drive dead in its tracks, and Tommy Doman came out for another punt.

Lagway threw another interception as Florida tried to quickly get down field and add some more points. It’s not quite clear what’s causing these turnover issues for Lagway, but he seems to push a bit too hard whenever the clock gets tight. Billy Napier has been criticized for his late-game clock management. Adding in an overeager QB to that mix is a problem.

No harm done, though. Florida made the stop and to halftime we go!

Blake Shapen gave Mississippi State a chance to score before the half, but he went long on a couple of throws after picking up a huge 47-yard chunk play.

The kick went over the right upright, but officials waved it off, saying it went wide. The Bulldogs protested, but there’s not a way to change that.

For once, the football gods are smiling on the Gators.

After the teams traded interceptions, Florida drove down the field from its own 16 to the Mississippi 15.

Baugh had a nice 12-yard gain, Lagway found VB3 and Amir Jackson for two more first downs and KD Daniels was serviceable in a backup role for the first time this year. However, all of that good led to a field goal.

Lagway took off on 3rd-and-7 because that was the play call? Everyone was lost and assumed Napier was treating the situation as four-down territory. It’s bold but acceptable to push the envelope early, but Billy Napier called out is field goal unit, leaving everyone scratching their head.

To rub salt in the wound, a delay of game and hands to the face penalty sent Florida back 25 yards. Trey Smack made it from 33, 38 and 53 but only the last one counted…

Forcing a punt after a touchdown is an easy way to make sure momentum stays on your side, and Florida’ defense has found some life again.

It’s a good thing that was a short drive, too, as Lagway promptly threw an interception on his second throw — the first was a 50-yard gain to VB3, but that’s less exciting after a turnover.

Florida’s well-rested defense answered with a turnover of their own. Poor ball security led to an easy fumble from MSU’s running back. Jayden Woods, a freshman, came away with it.

Florida needed a touchdown to turn the tide, and Jadan Baugh delivered. He capped off a 6-play, 69-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown. Florida faked an end around motion and Baugh punched it off the right guard for the score.

Phew!

Gator Nation can hold stop holding its breath. The start was rough, but things are turning around.

Mississippi State pushed forward on the ground for a first down, but Florida’s defense eventually grew wise to it. Still, it took a big fourth down stop for Jaden Robinson — MSU brought in that big QB again.

It looks like the Bulldogs went for a kill shot early, but that could backfire if DJ Lagway leads Florida down the field and takes the lead.

Both teams punted on their second drive. Mississippi State got a couple of first down, at least, but Florida went three and out. So far, the momentum is not on the Gators’ side.

The Bulldogs take over on their own 40-yard line.

Florida responded with a touchdown, but the referees called it back, saying Hayden Hansen didn’t control the catch as he crashed into the end zone. A review seemingly proved otherwise, but because the call on the field was a dropped ball, there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn it.

The good news is DJ Lagway made a couple of strong throws, and the drive was overall sound.

It looks like Florida’s defensive woes will continue against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs ripped a 48-yard completion down the left side of the field on the second play of the game.

Steady gains inside the red zone set up third and goal. MSU brought in a big-bodied quarterback for the snap, and he powered his way by Florida’s defense for a quick score.

It’s too early for doom, but Billy Napier should be nervous.