GAINESVILLE — We waited nine months for this?
A season opener full of promise fell flat as Florida was outclassed and outcoached by visiting No. 19 Miami during a 41-17 beatdown that Gators coach Billy Napier could ill afford entering a pivotal season.
Behind game-breaking dual-threat quarterback Cam Ward, the Hurricanes stunned a reported crowd of 90,544 at a sold-out crowd Swamp and placed Napier squarely on the hot seat.
The loss — the Gators’ sixth straight — dropped Napier to 11-15 at UF, including 2-10 against ranked opponents. The lopsided defeat also leaves Napier 9-5 in the Swamp, matching Steve Spurrier’s loss total (68-5) in 12 seasons at the venue the Gators’ icon nicknamed and turned into one of college football’s best home-field advantages.
Nothing Saturday was going to offset the Hurricanes’ talent edge, beginning with Ward and extending across the board.
Ward faced little if any pressure all day as he finished 26 of 35 passing for 385 yards and 3 scores, culminating with a 23-yard touchdown to Jacolby George to push the lead to 38-10. On the play, Ward scrambled to his left and threw across his body while perfectly leading his receiver to paydirt.
Graham Mertz and Florida’s attack could not begin to keep up. The Gators’ veteran QB never established a rhythm as the Hurricanes dominated the line of scrimmage, even with star end Ruben Bain Jr. injured early in the game.
A season after he led the SEC with a 72.9% completion rate, Mertz finished 11 of 20 for 91 yards and an interception at the goal line on a pass intended for Tre Wilson late in the third quarter. Mertz left the game after the play forcing freshman DJ Lagway into action.
He finished 3 of 6 for 31 yards and an interception, along with 20 yards rushing on 4 carries. A 16-yard pass from Lagway to Wilson with 10:11 to go finally gave the Gators 200 total yards. Miami finished with a 529-261 edge, while UF converted just 1 of 9 third downs.
With Florida trailing 17-3 with 3:32 remaining in the first half and the game slipping away, Montrell Johnson Jr. gave the Gators a glimmer of hope with a 71-yard touchdown run. Johnson, back from minor knee surgery in early August, took a handoff from Mertz on first down, followed blocks by left guard Knijeah Harris and center Jake Slaughter around the corner and outraced Miami’s defense to the end zone.
But Ward and Co. quickly answered with an 8-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 24-yard touchdown strike between two defenders to Xavier Restrepo, one of 7 catches for 112 yards by the Hurricanes’ star.
The half ended 45 seconds later with a sack of Mertz. A smattering of boos followed the Gators into the locker room.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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