University of Florida

Florida Gators’ staunch defense going for naught


Florida head coach Will Muschamp looks up at the clock during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. Missouri won 42-13.
Florida head coach Will Muschamp looks up at the clock during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. Missouri won 42-13. AP

Staunch defense going for naught

Twice in the past four seasons, Florida has lost a game when allowing less than 120 yards.

In the same scenario, all other FBS schools are undefeated (94-0) over the last decade.

The Gators wasted another dominant defensive effort in a blowout loss to Missouri, yielding just seven first downs and 2.4 yards per play in a 42-13 loss.

The defense’s effort proved fruitless, as Florida turned the ball over six times, two resulting in TDs. UF’s special teams also surrendered a pair of scores.

“Defensively our kids played well enough to win,” said coach Will Muschamp, who added that the defense “played their butts off.”

The Gators rank 13th nationally in total defense, but with an offense turning the ball over at alarming rates, UF’s scoring defense is 62nd.

JESSE SIMONTON

This story was originally published October 21, 2014 at 9:51 PM with the headline "Florida Gators’ staunch defense going for naught."

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