KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Saturday's contest at Tennessee was supposed to be the first big test to see how much UF's defense had improved. Either the Volunteers' offense wasn't as good as expected, or the Gators passed with flying colors in the 30-6 win.
UF held Tennessee to just one touchdown - a 1-yard run in the third quarter - despite the fact that the Volunteers led the game with 258 yards on offense.
The bulk of those yards came on three drives that covered 60 yards or more, but the Gators forced turnovers on two of them to keep the Vols in check.
"I think we just made a statement that the tradition of Florida defense is back," linebacker Brandon Spikes said. "We want to play well week in and week out and try to get it done and get the ball back to our dynamic offense."
Spikes said this week that Tennessee players gave up during UF's 59-20 win last year in Gainesville, and he said the Vols did the same thing on Saturday.
"I think [Tennessee quit]. Yep, they did," he said. "They're not as tough as us. They don't work as hard as us."
Spikes led the Gators with 10 tackles, and along with the rest of the team's front seven, hasn't allowed any of UF's three opponents to top 100 rushing yards, as the Volunteers notched 96.
The Gators outrushed them, gaining 147 yards, to make this the 17th time in the last 19 meetings that the team with more rushing yards has won.
"We just wanted to come out here, play great defense, be tougher than them and take care of the ball," Spikes said. "I think we did that today. The offense was great, and the defense flew around with relentless effort and made plays."
Even though they allowed a few long drives, the Gators still found a way to do something last year's squad failed to do so often in key situations: get the ball back.
Trailing by 17, the Vols put together a 14-play, 72-yard drive to reach the 1-yard line, but quarterback Jonathan Crompton fumbled while attempting to hand off to running back Arian Foster, and UF's Carlos Dunlap pounced on it.
After a Gators field goal, Tennessee started another promising drive, moving 60 yards on 11 plays just before the half. The Vols reached the 1-yard line again, but this time cornerback Janoris Jenkins jumped in front of Crompton's pass and secured a first half shutout.
Jenkins forced another turnover earlier in the game when he knocked the ball lose from UT running back Montario Hardesty on the Vols' first drive and linebacker Ryan Stamper recovered.
"Our defense is based on taking the ball away and creating turnovers so we can get the ball to the offense and they can score points," said Jenkins, who finished with two tackles.
