COLUMBIA, Mo. — Kelvin Taylor continues to shine for a Gators offense that has had few bright spots during the past two weeks.
Taylor, a freshman running back, finished with a career-high 74 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries during No. 22 Florida’s 36-17 loss to No. 14 Missouri on Saturday at Faurot Field.
“He did a good job of hitting the hole and getting to the second level,” quarterback Tyler Murphy said. “He did a good job making a few guys miss and getting us to the end zone.”
Taylor, who carried the football 10 times for 52 yards against LSU in place of running back Matt Jones (knee), accounted for nearly half of Florida’s offense on Saturday. UF finished with a season-low 151 yards against a stout Missouri defense.
His third-quarter touchdown — a 20-yard plunge that came when he took a handoff from Trey Burton out of the Wildcat package — was the first of Taylor’s career and cut the Gators’ deficit to 23-17 with 46 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
“Kelvin’s a natural, instinctive runner,” coach Will Muschamp said.
With Jones out for the season after suffering a torn meniscus in the first half against LSU, Florida has split carries between Taylor and redshirt junior Mack Brown. Against Missouri, Brown was much less effective, carrying the ball eight times for just 19 yards — a 2.4 yards per carry average that was less than half of Taylor’s 6.2 yards per attempt.
“I see a lot of growth out of him,” right guard Jon Halapio said of Taylor. “He’s been very productive in practice. He’s got great vision and everything. He had a game. Just wish we could have did a better job for him.”
Safety ejected: Few topics draw the ire of Muschamp like the NCAA’s new targeting rule. For the second time this season, he and the Gators were forced to deal with its consequences.
Cody Riggs, who starts alongside Jaylen Watkins at safety, was disqualified on the first play of the game against Missouri after being flagged for a targeting penalty against Missouri wide receiver L’Damian Washington following a 41-yard completion down the right sideline.
“I don’t disagree with the call,” Muschamp said. “I disagree with kicking a kid out of a game in that situation. He wasn’t maliciously trying to hurt anybody. It’s ridiculous.”
Riggs is the second Gators player ejected under the rule, which also draws a 15-yard penalty. Brian Poole was disqualified during the second half against Tennessee on Sept. 21.
Because Riggs’ infraction occurred prior to halftime, he will not have to sit out the first half of Florida’s next game.
Injuried Gators: UF announced early Saturday morning that linebacker Ronald Powell and defensive tackle Damien Jacobs would not play against Missouri after suffering injuries against LSU.
Powell traveled with the team to continue receiving treatment on his ankle. Jacobs stayed home with “lingering effects” from a hit suffered after his helmet was knocked off in a pile-up near the goal line last week.
Reserve linebacker Darrin Kitchens missed the game with a shoulder injury.
Jaylen Watkins (right hand) and Jeremi Powell (left knee) were injured during the game and will be evaluated this week. Loucheiz Purifoy (left hand) was treated by UF’s medical staff before returning to the game.
Follow Phillip Heilman on Twitter @phillip_heilman.
Freshman running back Kelvin Taylor (21) races to the end zone down the left sideline during the No. 22 Gators' 36-17 loss to the No. 14 Tigers on Saturday in Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.
Ronald Powell walks on the field prior to Florida’s 36-17 loss against Missouri on Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Powell missed the game with an ankle injury he suffered against LSU on Oct. 12.
Florida junior cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy (15) recovers a fumble after Missouri returner Marcus Murphy misfielded a punt during the No. 22 Gators' 36-17 loss to the No. 14 Tigers on Saturday in Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Purifoy left the game to get his left hand treated by UF’s medical staff but returned.
