After four weeks of dominating inferior opponents, the Florida rushing attack ran into a buzz saw against Alabama.
The senior running back duo of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps averaged 182.8 yards per game in the first month of the season, but combined for just 8 against the Crimson Tide.
“It was very frustrating,” Demps said. “It was hard to really get in the groove [Saturday], so we’ll just kind of slow it down. We’re just going to look at it as motivation from here on out.”
The Gators ran for minus-17 yards in the first half and 15 for the game. Only a 31-yard rush by freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel kept UF’s rushing total in the black.
Coach Will Muschamp said Alabama’s large lead and the injury to senior quarterback John Brantley made it more difficult to run the ball consistently and effectively.
While big leads in the first four contests allowed Demps and Rainey to carry the ball 24.3 times per game, the large deficit against Alabama limited them to a combined 14 carries.
The stout performance was business as usual for the Crimson Tide, which boasts by far the nation’s No. 1 rush defense, allowing just 39.6 yards per game. Second-place Virginia Tech allows 58.2 yards per game.
“We heard a lot about their offense and it being number one, and their running game is supposed to be the best,” Alabama senior linebacker Courtney Upshaw said.
“We just wanted to come out and prove what we could do.”
Debose making noise: Although the Florida wide receivers were almost invisible through the first four weeks of the season, sophomore Andre Debose needed just a single snap to make their presence felt.
On the game’s first offensive play, Debose lined up split out to the left and streaked past Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.
Brantley hit him in stride and Debose did the rest, strolling into the end zone for a 65-yard touchdown, the first touchdown reception of his career.
The single catch more than doubled Debose’s yardage total for the season.
He came into the game with five catches for 64 yards.
Debose left Florida’s game against Tennessee due to injury and did not play against Kentucky, but Muschamp liked what he saw from him in practice.
“Andre’s done a good job,” Muschamp said. “He’s practiced hard. … Very pleased with his progress.”
Saunders suspended: For the first time this season, freshman safety De’Ante “Pop” Saunders did not start Saturday.
Muschamp said Saunders was suspended for violating team rules and that he’d be back next week.
Junior Josh Evans started in his place.
Demps banged up: Demps said he was momentarily hurt after a kick return in the first quarter, but that he was “fine” postgame.
He said he fell on his left knee and felt a little discomfort, but that it “wasn’t that serious.”
All three of Demps’ carries happened after the injury.
Reed returns: After missing Florida’s matchups against Tennessee and Kentucky with a lower-body injury, sophomore tight end Jordan Reed returned to action against Alabama.
He caught a game-high five passes for 31 yards.
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Gators tight end Jordan Reed had a team-high five receptions against Alabama for 31 yards. It was Reed’s first game back after missing the last two weeks with an injury sustained in the UAB game on Sept. 10.
