Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was buzzing ahead of the showdown between the University of Florida’s Gators and the University of Miami’s Hurricanes. The rivalry matchup was highly anticipated as both teams looked to start their season with a win. The Swamp was filled and ready for the Florida classic. In front of over 90,000 fans and scorching heat, both teams got ready to face off since their last meeting in 2019.
The game was scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 with the Hurricanes having had won three of their last five meetings against the Gators. Both teams aimed to showcase their talent on the field, but, eyes were specifically set on UM’s starting senior quarterback Cam Ward, who is projected to have a fiery season.
The game started with the Gators on offense. Graham Mertz, the starting quarterback on the Gators team looked for another successful season. Looking for options early in the game, his first pass was completed to Eugene Wilson, who had a pickup of seven yards. However, the ball was quickly turned over to the Hurricanes as the Gators were struggling to find any plays to move the ball up the field.
“The Gators couldn’t really find a way to connect and I think they weren’t using their most explosive players as well as UM was. The UM defense was reading their plays really well and they got off to the better start,” sophomore Erik Hjelm said.
On their first drive, the Hurricanes were looking extremely confident. Ward and his team were able to find the end zone quickly whilst throwing in traffic and running the ball calmly. Cam McCormick had a 9-yard reception touchdown to start the scoring and put the Hurricanes on top.
The Gators, who fell behind early, managed some key plays but could not stop UM’s offensive surge or find a way to get the ball to the end zone. The first quarter ended with a score of 7 to 3. With a field goal followed by a rushing touchdown, the Hurricanes started the second quarter strong. Putting them up 17 to 3, the Gators seemed to be falling back at this point in the game.
Perspective started to change, however, when the Gators managed to respond with a 71-yard touchdown run by Montrell Johnson Jr. Despite the setback, UM’s defense and relentless scoring proved too much for UF’s team to handle. Things began going downhill for the Gators when Graham Mertz suffered a concussion during the third quarter, which ultimately caused him to leave the game. Gator’s linebacker Trey Dean III suffered a knee injury in the third quarter as well, which further affected the team’s efforts to make a comeback.
“I think with all the injuries they had during the game, it made it a lot harder for the Gators to recuperate and try to come back with a win. But the long touchdown run really got their momentum back up and I think they were able to power through,” sophomore Andres Kardijian said.
UM’s defense also made crucial plays, including two interceptions, one of which was a 67-yard return by cornerback Markeith Powell, setting up a touchdown. By the end of the third quarter, UM had a commanding 38-10 lead.
The Gators were able to start their newest addition to the team following Mertz’s injury. DJ Lagway, a five star quarterback out of high school made his collegiate debut for the Florida Gators, stepping and completing three of six passes for 31 yards. The freshman showcased his talent, even leading a nine play, 58-yard drive that resulted in a fourth-quarter touchdown.
“I think for a freshman who was a star in high school it can be hard to live up to the expectations and really show you can win games. Especially when your starting quarterback got injured. But I think Lagway played exceptionally well to end the game and was able to finish the game showcasing his talent,” sophomore Erick del Valle said.
With key turnovers and injuries affecting the Gators, UM controlled most of the game. UM’s relentless drives, highlighted by Ward’s performance and Xavier Restrepo’s 112 receiving yards, sealed the game with a final score of 41 to 17.
“Both teams have a really hard schedule and this was a tough math for both of them. I think even though the Gators lost, they are still going to have a good season and have good talent. Hopefully they can recover their injured players,” sophomore Alessandro Vendrame said.
Despite the tough loss, UF is excited to see how their new quarterback, DJ Lagway, evolves and leads the team as the season progresses. Both teams now look to build on their performances and look to carry their momentum into their next game.
