Florida, FSU finish subpar seasons as Gators’ Baugh runs for 266 yards in win
As the breeze picked up Saturday, Gainesville became almost euphoric. The Swamp was energetic at times, but more at peace with its season having long blown away in the coaching cyclone that has engulfed Florida.
The Gators seemed to take on a similar vibe. Unlike a season ago, when Florida capped a late-season hoorah with a center-field flag-planting at Florida State, this meeting between the bitter in-state rivals felt more muted than ever — the product of a pair of fleeting seasons.
How steep were the pair’s struggles: Florida (4-8) and Florida State (5-7) end this year with their fewest combined wins (9) since 1974. As the Gators’ season rapidly spiraled, the common reference point for any consolation was their 1979 campaign, when they didn’t win a game. Even that season, Florida State picked up the slack with 11 wins.
So Saturday served as a case study in what a battle of struggling college football powers produces. Of course, there were difficulties. The Seminoles and Gators found themselves trading turnovers and missed shots throughout the first half. But the pair eventually settled into a competitive fight, and despite coaching cycle speculation swirling as loud as ever, Florida ended Florida State’s bowl bid in a 40-21 victory behind 266 rushing yards from Jadan Baugh.
“It didn’t start the way we wanted to in the first couple games. [But] I’ll tell you what, the way we finished today, it was the first time, in my opinion, we played a complete game offense, defense, special teams-wise. I can’t be more proud of these guys,” interim coach Billy Gonzales said. “I can’t tell you that enough. I love ‘em.”
There were positive streaks during Florida’s season. The common denominator was Baugh, who only started playing running back full-time two years ago. His 266 yards are the second most of any Gator in a single game, coming up just shy of Emmitt Smith, who had 316. Baugh finished with 1,170 yards, the seventh greatest single-season total in Florida history, though it didn’t seem to go to his head.
“I’m never focused on future things. I’m always focused on the moment,” Baugh said. “Life is short. Focusing on the moment, just enjoying everything that’s in front of me, I feel like that’s the way to go.”
Florida’s offense was determined to get Baugh past 1,000 yards, feeding him a whopping 38 carries in the evening. After that type of evening, the sophomore came into his postgame news conference ball still in hand.
But there rests the serenity of Florida’s twirling situation: he’s a sophomore. Florida’s quarterback DJ Lagway, who finished with three touchdowns: also a sophomore. Florida’s leading receiver this year, Vernell Brown III: a freshman. The entirety of the secondary Florida trotted out late in the game: all freshmen.
Among those, cornerback Ben Hanks III intercepted the final pass of the night, a gift to the nearly full student section and a fitting, optimistic conclusion to Florida’s season.
“At one point, I looked out there, we had four true freshmen sitting in the back end,” Gonzales said. “They were unbelievable today.”
Florida State showed sparks, entering halftime down only 17-14. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos finished with more than 300 total yards and three touchdowns, though his most memorable moment was an ill-fated chomping celebration before Florida exploded.
In no way was it the Seminoles’ fault, but this was a culmination for Florida. One brimming with tranquility, as the Gators looked the most complete they had all season.
“You have to come to work every day, put your best foot forward,” Lagway said. “When things weren’t looking bright, when you just want to be at home, staying away from everybody … being in the building every single day, just grinding it out [was the difference].”
After the game, Gonzales meandered through everything from how he was about to hit the hot tub to even thanking the media for its service during his time as Florida’s coach. The chord that struck loudest, though, came when he abruptly lifted a blue folder above his head.
Opened for the crowd to see, it contained a handwritten message he’d crafted for Florida’s team about its future. The premise: “If you build it together, you’ll be successful.”
In the eye of the hurricane, everything was still for Florida on Saturday. For the first time this season, it felt like the Gators had direction.