Defensive big plays fittingly lead Gators to Birmingham Bowl win

Will Muschamp may not be the head coach of the Florida Gators, but his former team’s Birmingham Bowl performance would have made him proud.

Once again, it was Florida’s defense that was the difference in the game as the Gators limited an explosive ECU offense to just 20 points in a 28-20 victory, giving Florida its seventh win of the season.

The Gators didn’t necessarily shut down ECU, who gained a total of 536 yards of offense, including 427 yards through the air. But the big plays on defense is where Florida excelled and what ultimately clinched the win for the Gators.

It didn’t take long, either.

Florida picked up right where it left off against FSU — picking off passes. Junior cornerback Brian Poole took advantage of a poorly thrown pass by gunslinger Shane Carden in the first quarter and housed it 29-yards for the Gators’ first score of the game.

All game long, the pressure intensified on Carden, thanks to the explosive Gators’ defensive linemen. Caleb Brantley, Dante Fowler and Alex McAlister were especially disruptive.

Fowler, however, was the star of the game. The future first-round NFL draft pick was Muschamp’s prized jewel of all of his recruiting class. He was a guy Muschamp personally recruited and hounded for nearly a year before Fowler finally made the decision to switch from FSU to Florida on National Signing Day.

He already declared he’ll be leaving early for the NFL Draft, following the conclusion of the Gators’ bowl game. Already expected to be a high draft pick, Fowler undoubtedly raised his stock with his dominating Birmingham Bowl performance — three tackles, which all went for sacks and two QB hurries.

It was a game that set up well for Fowler, a defensive end considered to be one of the best pass rushers in college football. ECU’s Air Raid offense means a lot of passing attempts, which translates to a lot of opportunities for Fowler to wreak havoc in the opposing backfield.

And Fowler didn’t disappoint.

#Gators DE Dante Fowler Jr. just got a coverage sack despite Florida only rushing three against seven blockers. Wow.

— OnlyGators.com (@onlygators) January 3, 2015

Why isn’t Dante Fowler playing offense at Florida?

— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) January 3, 2015

Despite the timely plays from Florida’s defense, the Gators needed one more big play from another proven commodity to seal the win.

With just over a minute left, the Pirates had driven down the field to the red zone in hopes of tying up the game. Carden attempted another fade pass, a play that had worked so well earlier, but it was the two-time All-Americanc cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III that stepped up in the big moment.

The former five-star recruit stepped in front of the pass and made the interception, a play the Gators so desperately needed.

With the pick, the Gators had won, once again on the back of the defense.

Surprisingly, the offense did make some big plays of its own, including an 86-yard touchdown reception for Ahmad Fulwood. But it was the defense that came through in the clutch moments.

While it may be a fitting ending to the Gators’ season — to see the defense carry the team to a victory — it’s also a stark reminder of the offensive deficiences which held Florida back during Muschamp’s time at Florida.

And so begins the Jim McElwain era.

Drew Laing

Drew Laing will be providing analysis and insight on Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina.