JACKSONVILLE — On a day when offense was at a premium in the Gator Bowl, it was Florida’s special teams that proved to be the difference.
Thanks to a pair of special teams scores, Florida downed Ohio State on Monday to end a disappointing season on a high note.
Wide receiver Andre Debose returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown – the third of his career – and senior running back Chris Rainey blocked a punt early in the third quarter that freshman linebacker Graham Stewart scooped and scored to give Florida what proved to be an insurmountable 21-10 lead.
“Special teams was huge,” Florida coach Will Muschamp said. “Andre’s kickoff return, blocked extremely well. D.J. Durkin does the best job in the country on special teams, week in, week out, momentum-changers and putting our guys in situations to be successful.
The blocked punt was a great design to get some guys free and change some things in the game.”
The kickoff return helped Debose earn Gator Bowl MVP honors, and the blocked punt – which was the Gators’ sixth blocked kick of the season – solidified Rainey’s place in the record books. The block was the sixth of Rainey’s career, which sets both a Florida and Southeastern Conference all-time mark.
“Somebody is going to go beat it,” Rainey said. “Solomon Patton; they’ve still got two more years so it might be up for grabs.”
Shakeup on the line: The Gators had a new-look offensive line against Ohio State after a string of injuries left the team thin at the unit.
Florida left guard Dan Wenger missed Monday’s bowl game with a foot injury and senior James Wilson started in his place. The Gators were also without tackle Matt Patchan, who is recovering from a back injury. With Patchan out, Nick Alajajian got the start instead of left tackle Xavier Nixon, who has struggled with consistency this season.
While Nixon replaced Alajajian late in the first quarter when Alajajian was easily beat on a John Brantley sack, Alajajian returned minutes later when Nixon injured his right knee on another Brantley said. Muschamp said after the game that Nixon just “tweaked” his knee and is expected to be OK.
Freshman tackle Chaz Green, who started at right tackle, also sustained an ankle injury and the Gators were thin all along the line, also utilizing Kyle Koehne and Sam Robey off the bench.
“We got a little thin there are offensive tackle,” Muschamp said. “I asked [offensive line coach] Frank (Verducci) if he wanted me to dress out and he said no.”
Other injuries: Freshman linebacker Chris Johnson suffered a rib injury and cornerback Jaylen Watkins, who started at corner, also got “banged up,” Muschamp said. Watkins briefly left the game but later returned.
Purifoy plays: After contributing on special teams throughout the season, freshman defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy saw his first meaningful time at cornerback in Monday’s win. Purifoy got into the rotation in the secondary and made the most of his opportunity. He was third on the team with five tackles and also forced a fumble.
"Loucheiz is a competitor; he competed all year in practice,” safety Matt Elam said. “All he did was wait his turn and he got his turn and did all he could do. He did his job -- a competitor."
Etc.: After recovering a fumble in the second quarter, De’Ante Saunders became the third Florida freshman since 1996 to register three takeaways.
Contact Tom Green at tgreen@alligator.org.
Redshirt senior Chris Rainey rushed for 71 yards and set a school and SEC record when he blocked the sixth punt of his career in the third quarter of Florida's Gator Bowl win.
