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Blackmon: Billy Napier and Florida deliver a November to remember in The Swamp

Neil Blackmon

By Neil Blackmon

Published:

GAINESVILLE — If Week 12 was “turn the corner Saturday” for Billy Napier’s Florida program, this week was “Statement Saturday” for Napier and the Gators.

Florida proved its mettle in last week’s 27-16 win over then-No. 22 LSU.

Saturday, the Gators made a statement.

Florida’s 24-17 win over No. 9 Ole Miss was by far the biggest win of the Napier era, the type of victory that goes beyond proof of concept and sneaks into the realm of “about to arrive.”

The Gators haven’t arrived yet, but as Jaxson Dart’s desperation 4th-quarter heave fluttered hopelessly into the arms of Florida defensive back Bryce Thornton, extinguishing Ole Miss’ SEC title and College Football Playoff hopes in one fell swoop, you couldn’t help but see a bright horizon for Napier and Florida.

Much like Florida’s win over LSU, this win was no fluke.

Florida was the more physical team on both lines of scrimmage, imposing their will on Pete Golding’s terrific defense in the run game and creating more havoc with their pass rush defensively than the vaunted Ole Miss front.

The Gators outrushed Ole Miss 165-141, out-pressured the Rebels 15-10, and out-sacked the nation’s leading sack defense 4-3. Florida’s defense surrendered more yards than the Rebels, but the Gators stiffened when it mattered most, buoyed by the bellicose blast of 90,000 strong roaring loud and proud on a postcard perfect sun-splashed Saturday in The Swamp.

Florida limited Ole Miss to just 3-for-14 on 3rd downs and produced 2 4th-down stops, including one in the red zone that shifted momentum to the Gators in the 3rd quarter.

On that 4th down, Florida’s big play came from a freshman, linebacker Myles Graham, the highly coveted linebacker recruit forced into duty due to an injury to starter Pup Howard.

Graham was just 1-of-4 Florida players on defense forced into extended duty due to a starter’s injury. Another starter, redshirt freshman Aaron Gates, was injured on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Other defenses might have folded. Not Billy Napier’s team. Thanks to Napier and his staff’s evaluations, the Gators didn’t just have the depth to keep up, they had difference makers.

On offense, the Gators continued to look like a different team under freshman sensation DJ Lagway. On Florida’s first scoring drive, an 11-play, 90-yard march against the nation’s best defensive front, Lagway made 2 stupendous throws under pressure, including a 19-yard strike to Elijhah Badger with Jared Ivey, one of the SEC leaders in pressures and sacks, draped on his hip.

On Florida’s second drive, Lagway completed 2 passes for 52 yards in a 4-play, 75-yard quick strike touchdown drive that tied the score at 14 and sent a nervous Swamp back into cauldron of sound mode after 2 quick Ole Miss touchdowns.

“Obviously, they are a different team with that quarterback,” Kiffin told the media after the game. “Credit him. He made big play after big play in the first half. He’s a special kid and he wasn’t bothered by the pressure and things that have bothered other quarterbacks we’ve faced.”

Lagway, the unflappable freshman, received a boost from senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. when the game was in the balance.

Johnson, playing his final game in The Swamp and his first full game off an ankle injury suffered against Tennessee, saved his best for last. Johnson gained over 65 yards in the second half, including the game-winning touchdown, a 9-yard jaunt to the house out of the “wildcat” with just under 8 minutes to play.

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Once Florida reclaimed the lead, the defense did the rest.

Florida sacked Dart twice in the 4th quarter and pressured him constantly, doing just enough to jot one of the nation’s most accurate passers out of rhythm.

Florida tackle Caleb Banks continued his frenzied run toward a first round draft pick this spring, posting 2.5 of Florida’s 4 sacks, 6 pressures and 4 tackles for loss. When Florida sealed the game on Thornton’s pick, Banks crumbled to the turf, half in joy and half in relief.

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“The journey from the Miami game to today has been something,” Banks told SDS. “We just kept fighting for each other. We just kept fighting for coach. We know who we are.”

Who Florida is now is a team with 2 of the nation’s best wins in November, a budding superstar at quarterback, and increasing momentum on the recruiting trail. Imagine writing that sentence 2 months ago, after humbling home losses to Miami and Texas A&M. Imagine writing that sentence even a month ago, after Florida lost Graham Mertz to a season-ending injury and blew a double-digit point lead at Tennessee.

But that’s the thing about these Gators.

The national media quit on them. Local media called for Napier’s dismissal.

The Gators didn’t quit on one another.

“That first month of the year was a challenge in every facet,” Napier told the media Saturday afternoon. “I think young people, at that point they’ve got to decide who they want to be and what they’re about. I think this group of seniors, there’s very specific players in that group, very grateful for them. …I think we learned you earn the right to win. Today, we earned the right to win.”

With a core featuring Lagway, running back Jadan Baugh (who scored again Saturday, this time on a reception), and a host of underclassmen earning invaluable reps on defense, the future suddenly appears bright for Napier’s program at Florida.

Saturday’s Swamp celebration, the second in as many weeks, feels more like a prelude than a postlude. What a statement for the young Gators and their coach to make.

Florida’s September to forget has become a November to remember.

Neil Blackmon

Neil Blackmon covers Florida football and the SEC for SaturdayDownSouth.com. An attorney, he is also a member of the Football and Basketball Writers Associations of America. He also coaches basketball.

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