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After a rough start to the season, the SEC East performed much better overall in Week 2.
There were some hiccups along the way, but teams like Florida and Tennessee had statement wins after looking shaking in Week 1. Missouri also looked very impressive on Saturday, lighting up Eastern Michigan for 61 points.
Here’s what we learned about the SEC East in Week 2.
Florida Gators (2-0)
Week 2 result: Defeated Kentucky 45-7
What we learned: The Gators looked much better in their SEC opener than they did in Week 1. It was a very solid performance across the board for Florida, gaining 564 yards on offense and limiting Kentucky to 149 yards. Luke Del Rio threw for 320 yards and 4 touchdowns with an interception and did a great job distributing the ball.
Nine Gators had a reception, led by Antonio Calloway, who finished with 5 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. The Gators had a shutout going midway through the fourth quarter and pressured Kentucky into four turnovers in beating the Wildcats for the 30th consecutive time.
It was a statement victory for Florida, which looked much more like the team from the start of last season.
Georgia Bulldogs (2-0)
Week 2 result: Defeated Nicholls State 26-24
What we learned: Georgia is not immune to the struggles that plagued the rest of the SEC East in Week 1. Jacob Eason made his first start for the Bulldogs, completing 11 of 20 passes for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception that led to Greyson Lambert protecting the late lead.
The line had a very tough time getting anything going up front, and the running game suffered as a result. Nick Chubb failed to top 100 yards in a full game as the starter for the first time in his career, gaining 80 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Defensively, Georgia looked good for most of the afternoon but was put in short-field situations by the offense too often. Trent Thompson had a spectacular game, notching 11 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and a sack.
The Bulldogs escaped with a win, which is the important part. Georgia needs to move on from this game and focus on its SEC opener against Missouri, but Kirby Smart is sure to keep reminding his team of this ugly performance.
Kentucky Wildcats (0-2)
Week 2 result: Lost to Florida 45-7
What we learned: The strong first half against Southern Mississippi seems like a distant memory for Kentucky. The Wildcats could not get much of anything going against the Gators and have now lost 30 consecutive games to their SEC East rival.
Drew Barker had a very rough outing, completing only 2 of his 10 pass attempts for 10 yards and throwing 3 interceptions. Stanley “Boom” Williams managed only 66 yards on 12 carries, and Kentucky totaled 94 yards on the ground. The Wildcats’ defense could not get off the field on third down, allowing Florida to convert on 70 percent of its third-down attempts.
Mark Stoops surely has his work cut out for him as Kentucky will look to get its first win next week against New Mexico State.
Missouri Tigers (1-1)
Week 2 result: Defeated Eastern Michigan 61-21
What we learned: The last time Missouri scored more than 60 points, it was playing in its first game as a member of the SEC. The Tigers scored 62 points against Southeastern Louisiana in their 2012 season opener.
They got there again Saturday night when Drew Lock led an impressive offensive outburst in Barry Odom’s home opener as Missouri’s head coach. Lock had a career night, throwing for 450 yards and 5 touchdowns (tying a program record). Ray Wingo and Johnathon Johnson each had a touchdown and surpassed the century mark receiving, gaining 125 and 115 yards, respectively.
It wasn’t just the offense that carried the Tigers, however. Johnson scored on a 54-yard punt return and linebacker Joey Burkett picked off a pass near the end zone and scored a 1-yard touchdown.
It was a solid day all around for the Tigers, who will welcome SEC East rival Georgia next weekend for a game that suddenly looks a lot more interesting.
South Carolina Gamecocks (1-1)
Week 2 result: Lost to Mississippi State 27-14
What we learned: It was a tale of two halves for Will Muschamp’s Gamecocks. A long weather delay kept the teams in their locker rooms at halftime, and a game that began at 7 p.m. ended after 11.
South Carolina could not muster any offense in the first half, gaining only seven rushing yards on 16 attempts. The Gamecocks stuck with a struggling Perry Orth at quarterback in the first half, who was 9-of-17 for 83 yards with an interception.
After halftime, Brandon McIlwain entered at the position and looked slightly better, throwing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 10 completions. The Gamecocks lack weapons, and it showed again.
The Gamecocks will host a 2-0 East Carolina squad that is fresh off a victory over N.C. State next weekend.
Tennessee Volunteers (2-0)
Week 2 result: Defeated Virginia Tech 45-24
What we learned: Tennessee responded in a big way after a rough Week 1 outing that left many questioning if the Vols were all hype.
After surrendering two quick scores to Virginia Tech in front of a record crowd of 156,990 rabid fans, it looked like Tennessee might again be in big trouble. Instead, the Vols ran off 31 consecutive points and held a 31-14 lead deep into the third quarter, before eventually finishing off the Hokies.
Joshua Dobbs turned in the type of performance we’ve come to expect from the veteran quarterback. He was dynamic through the air and on the ground, throwing for 91 yards and 3 scores while running for 106 yards and 2 more touchdowns.
The defense played well after the two Virginia Tech scores and racked up four turnovers, including three fumble recoveries on three-consecutive Hokies’ possessions in the fourth quarter. Shy Tuttle and Micah Abernathy made several big plays defensively, and Abernathy set a single-game record with three fumble recoveries.
It was a statement win for Tennessee and may end up being a turning point in the Vols’ season. When it looked like everything could go wrong, they buckled down and responded in a big way. Tennessee has an easier test against Ohio next week before a home showdown with Florida.
Vanderbilt Commodores (1-1)
Week 2 result: Defeated Middle Tennessee 47-24
What we learned: Vanderbilt rebounded nicely from its season-opening loss with a big win over Middle Tennessee.
Much of the damage was done in the second quarter, when two scores by Ralph Webb and a score from Khari Blasingame and Kalija Lipscomb gave the Commodores a 33-17 lead heading into halftime. The offense scored 31 points in the first half, the most under Derek Mason, and it was Webb how did most of the damage.
Webb was spectacular, carrying the ball 29 times for a career-high 211 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kyle Shurmur was better at quarterback for Vanderbilt, throwing for 113 yards and a touchdown on 15 completions, but still has work to do.
Oren Burks continues to make key plays for the team, defensively. He had a big interception in the second quarter, which he returned 59 yards to the MTSU 7-yard line.
Vanderbilt will face a tougher task next weekend when it heads to Atlanta and face Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense.
