KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The big play is back in Florida's offense, and it was one of the main reasons the Gators beat Tennessee 37-20 in Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.
The Gators had nine rushes or passes of at least 20 yards, which is one more than they had in their first two weeks combined. Three of them resulted in points: Trey Burton ran 80 yards for a touchdown, Frankie Hammond had a 75-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown, and Jordan Reed had a 23-yard touchdown catch.
In addition, Mike Gillislee had runs of 45 and 33 yards.
"You can't give up those plays in this league and expect to win the game," UT coach Derek Dooley said. "You just can't."
But the Vols did, and at critical times, too. The Gators were trailing 20-13 in the third quarter and had just failed on a fake punt to give the Vols the ball at the UF 47. Florida's defense forced a three-and-out, and the Gators got the ball back on their own 20. Burton took a wildcat snap, faked a jet sweep, and ran off right tackle, cut to the sideline, and out-raced UT's secondary into the end zone to tie the game.
"I knew he was fast but I didn’t know he had that kind of speed," UF QB Jeff Driskel said.
UF intercepted a Tyler Bray pass to stop UT's next drive, and Gillislee started the possession off with a 45-yard run. Two plays later, Driskel hit Reed for the go-ahead touchdown.
"It was very deflating," UT nose guard Daniel McCullers said. "When you do so good and then you lose a block and they run right past you (it's frustrating)."
