It took no second-half points, one second-half pass and 33 passing yards for Mississippi State to hand Florida its third consecutive loss Saturday night in The Swamp.
The Gators (4-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) lost on homecoming for the fist time since 1988, lost at home to the Bulldogs for the first time since 1965 and are unranked in the AP Poll for the first time in Urban Meyer’s six seasons as head coach.
“Yeah, this is [a low point],” senior center Mike Pouncey said. “I can’t remember the last time I ever lost three games in my whole life. This is one of the toughest times of my life. I’m gonna talk to people, with my teammates that are close to me, and we’ll just stick together and get through this.”
MSU coach, and former UF offensive coordinator, Dan Mullen led the Bulldogs to a 10-0 halftime lead before essentially running out the clock for the final 30 minutes of the game.
After halftime, he called one pass play — a shovel that went for a 5-yard loss — and challenged coordinator Steve Addazio and the Gators’ offense, ranked 91st in yards per game and 65th in scoring nationally, to erase the deficit while his Bulldogs held the ball for more than 17 minutes.
UF’s offense was unable to respond, as MSU running back Vick Ballard and quarterback Chris Relf combined for 180 rushing yards, controlling the clock and limiting the Gators to four second-half drives.
“We’re not very good,” coach Urban Meyer said. “We’ve got to get some guys healthy.“
As bad as Florida has been in its last three games, the Gators still control whether they play in Atlanta for the SEC Championship at the end of the season.
UF hasn’t lost to an SEC East team and South Carolina was upset by Kentucky on Saturday, meaning every team on Florida’s side of the conference has at least two conference losses.
The bye week comes at a perfect time for the Gators, who will have 13 days to prepare for Georgia and rest injured players.
Meyer didn’t rule out a major overhaul of UF’s offense, but said the most pressing issue is the team’s health. “Obviously, we have to get a lot better,” Meyer said. “When you’re dealing with health issues, that’s part of it.”
Wide receiver Omarius Hines moved to running back, led the team in rushing yards (58) and scored the team’s only touchdown from 5 yards out on an option pitch from freshman Trey Burton.
Running backs Jeff Demps, Mike Gillislee and Emmanuel Moody are all battling injuries, which Meyer said led to the use of Hines and true freshman wide receiver Robert Clark out of the backfield.
Meyer also planned to expand wide receiver Andre Debose’s role in the offense, but the redshirt freshman went down with a sprained ankle on a first-quarter kick return.
Punter Chas Henry, who leads the nation in average net yards per punt, missed two field goals, including the game-tying attempt from 42 yards away with nine seconds left.
Henry is now 2 for 5 since taking over the kicking duties for an injured Caleb Sturgis (back) and was given more responsibility when kickoff specialist Brad Phillips left Saturday’s game with an injury.
“That’s a lot of pressure for Chas,” Burton said. “That’s not his position. Make it, miss it or hit the goal post, we’re still there for him. It’s tough.”
Finger pointing won’t turn UF’s season around.
The Gators know they can’t get back to Atlanta individually.
“I told a couple of the offensive guys, told Trey and (quarterback John) Brantley and Carl Moore, I’m behind them 100 percent,” said safety Ahmad Black, who led the team with 10 tackles. “I’m their biggest fan. So as long as they support me, I support them.”
Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen, who spent four years as UF’s offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer, celebrates on the field after his Bulldogs defeated the Gators 10-7 in 2011.
