Gators clinch SEC East in 31-19 win over the Vols

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 6 Florida had some bother on the bottom.

The air was no downside.

Kyle Trask threw for 433 yards and 4 touchdowns, and the Gators beat Tennessee 31-19 on Saturday to clinch a spot within the SEC championship recreation.

Trask, a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, put collectively one other spectacular efficiency. He accomplished 35 of 49 passes with out committing a turnover. He even had a 32-yard punt late within the recreation.

Kyle Pitts had seven receptions for 128 yards, serving to the Gators (Eight-1, No. 6 CFP) wrap up the SEC’s East Division. Kadarius Toney completed with eight catches for 108 yards and a TD.

“It feels wonderful,” Trask mentioned of the division title. “You already know that was one in every of our primary targets in the beginning of this season, as a result of as a way to do all of the, you already know, the larger stuff you first should win the East. In order that was our first primary purpose.”

The aerial efficiency by Trask and firm took on added significance with Florida struggling to run the ball, ending with simply 21 yards on the bottom.

Enjoying with a depleted roster, Tennessee (2-6) dropped its sixth consecutive recreation. The Vols have been lacking 16 gamers.

Freshman Harrison Bailey acquired the beginning at quarterback. He accomplished 14 of 21 passes for 111 yards and a 15-yard landing to Eric Gray. He was sacked 5 instances.

Trask has 38 TD passes this season, shifting him into sixth place in SEC historical past for a single season, forward of Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and Tim Sofa of Kentucky. He has probably the most TD passes by way of a staff’s first 9 video games.

5 performs into the second half, the result was all however determined. Florida stretched a 10-point halftime benefit to 24-7 with a 75-yard drive capped by an Eight-yard cross from Trask to Trevon Grimes. The large play within the sequence was a 48-yard connection between Trask and Kyle Pitts.

Early within the fourth quarter, Florida upped the result in 31-7 when Trask discovered Jacob Copeland for a 12-yard TD.

Quarterback J.T. Shrout got here off the bench to steer the Vols to 2 late touchdowns. Ty Chandler ran the ball in from 7 yards, then Velus Jones, Jr., caught a 22-yard scoring cross.

Florida took a 17-7 lead into the locker room at intermission. Tennessee’s protection turned the Gators offense right into a one-dimensional assault – however with Trask behind middle, it was greater than sufficient.

Whereas the Gators generated simply 1 internet yard dashing within the first 30 minutes, Trask had loads of success. He accomplished 21 of 28 passes for 251 yards and accounted for each touchdowns – a Four-yard toss to Grimes and a 2-yarder to Toney.

After a subject purpose on Florida’s first possession, Tennessee responded. Bailey engineered a 96-yard drive, most of which occurred within the second quarter, and topped it off with a TD cross to Grey out of the backfield.

Florida answered with its first landing. Then it acquired fascinating.

Down 10-7, the Vols have been confronted with fourth-and-5 on their very own 30-yard line. Punter Paxton Brooks faked the punt and threw a cross to an open Jimmy Holiday. What would have been a primary down was dropped by Vacation.

The error did not harm, although. The Tennessee protection stiffened and compelled the Gators right into a subject purpose try from 53 yards. Evan McPherson missed large proper.

ROOKIE STARTERS

Sixteen Tennessee gamers missed the sport. Freshman Cooper Mays acquired his first profession begin at middle instead of senior Brandon Kennedy, who moved to left sort out. The Vols additionally turned to Bailey for his first begin forward of redshirt senior Jarrett Guarantano.

THE TAKEAWAY

Florida: The Gators reached the SEC championship recreation for the primary time since 2016.

Tennessee: The Vols’ six-game dropping streak is this system’s longest since beginning the 1988 season with six straight losses.

UP NEXT

Florida closes out its common season Saturday with a house recreation in opposition to LSU.

Tennessee will journey to Nashville for a gathering with rival Vanderbilt.