UAB’s defense knew the run was coming. The Blazers still couldn’t stop it.
Florida ran all over UAB in Saturday’s 39-0 win, compiling 300 of its 512 yards of offense on the ground. The Gators got it done in every way imaginable.
After running back Jeff Demps left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury, Florida’s run game ventured away from its conventional identity, and the offense unveiled some new wrinkles.
“We gameplan each week to win the game and do what it’s going to take to win the game,” coach Will Muschamp said. “We wanted to use some of those things this week. We thought it gave us a good advantage to win the game.”
Muschamp and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis released their version of the Wildcat and introduced a jumbo package with fullbacks Trey Burton and Hunter Joyer. Backup running back Mike Gillislee wowed the 87,473 fans in attendance with some sparks of his own and the Gators controlled the clock for more than 36 minutes to wear down UAB’s defense.
Advantage: Florida.
Midway through the second quarter, Burton and Chris Rainey both took direct snaps in the backfield. Rainey’s number was the first one called.
The speedy running back, who finished with a career-high 162 yards of total offense, took two straight snaps in the Wildcat with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. He went for 12 yards on the first play, then scampered 9 yards on the following play. Rainey finished with 119 rushing yards and a career-high 16 carries.
“It was fun, it was my first time doing it, so I liked it,” Rainey said of the formation. “I hope we keep doing it.”
On Florida’s next possession, Burton, who finished with six rushes for 46 yards, received snaps in the backfield. After faking a handoff to Rainey, Burton trotted into the end zone for a 5-yard score.
But the Gators’ unconventional running game against the Blazers went beyond the Wildcat.
Florida also lined up with Burton and Joyer, a true freshman, in the backfield together, marking the first time UF has used a jumbo package this season.
Joyer carried the ball three times on the night, including a 3-yard touchdown — Florida’s first of the game — on his first career touch. Joyer became the fourth Gator since 2008 to have the first carry of his career go for a score, joining Burton, tight end Jordan Reed and former defensive lineman Javier Estopinan.
The Gators’ rushing attack didn’t stop there, either.
With Demps, the team’s leading rusher in Week 1, sidelined for most of the night, Gillislee saw plenty of time in the backfield. He carried the ball 11 times for 79 yards and a score, including a 19-yard run that featured two spin moves. The junior carried a group of UAB defenders for 4 yards before he was brought down.
In all, nine different Gators combined for 55 carries while the offense passed the ball just 20 times.
“It’s nice to line up to run it when they know we’re going to run it, and we’re still able to run it and take possession of the ball,” Muschamp said.
Contact Tom Green at tgreen@alligator.org.
Gators fullback Trey Burton was part of a diverse rushing attack in UF’s 39-0 win against UAB on Saturday. In all, Florida ran the ball 55 times for 300 yards and unveiled several new packages, including the Wildcat.
Florida running back Mike Gillislee ran the ball 11 times for 79 yards in the 39-0 win against UAB on Saturday.
