The Gators’ injury-depleted defense has been leaking for several weeks.
During Florida’s 26-20 loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the dam burst completely.
Florida allowed Georgia Southern to rack up 429 rushing yards, which were the fourth most surrendered in program history and the highest total it had allowed since giving up 524 yards on the ground to Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.
Despite failing to complete a pass in the game, Georgia Southern became the first non-conference opponent other than Miami or Florida State to beat Florida at home since Memphis State accomplished the feat in 1988.
“This is what they do for a living,” coach Will Muschamp said. “It’s hard to defend them. The way you defend these teams is you change the scoreboard on the other side and you get them out of their rhythm and you create negative plays and you get them behind the down and distance.”
Florida (4-7, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) was rarely able to accomplish any of the tasks Muschamp mentioned.
Its offense sputtered much of the game, and its defense failed to consistently diagnose who was doing what when Georgia Southern (7-4, 4-4 Southern Conference) ran its trademark triple-option offense.
The results were damning.
Jerick McKinnon rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles. Kevin Ellison added 118 yards and two more scores. William Banks barely fell short of making it a trio of 100-yard rushers, finishing the game with 94 yards of his own.
“It hurts,” safety Cody Riggs said. “We didn’t watch what we were supposed to be watching on certain plays, and those six, seven, eight plays are the ones that got them all of those yards.”
Florida entered the game with the Southeastern Conference’s third-best rushing defense, but that ranking no longer properly categorizes a unit that has been consistently shredded during its six-game losing streak.
“We’ve had a lot of hardships this year,” Riggs said. “Not using that as an excuse again, but it’s just a rough year for us.”
Injuries: Adding injury to insult, UF’s defense was lost several more players.
Linebacker Michael Taylor left the game during the first half after suffering a knee injury and did not return. Muschamp said Taylor is doubtful to play against Florida State on Saturday.
Darrin Kitchens suffered a stinger during the game. His departure, along with Taylor’s, left Florida’s defense playing with multiple seldom-used linebackers, including walk-on David Campbell.
Alex Anzalone, a third UF linebacker, suffered a shoulder dislocation. His status moving forward is uncertain.
The injuries further depleted a defense that came in shorthanded.
Florida announced prior to the game that defensive end Jon Bullard (knee) and cornerback Marcus Roberson (ankle) would be out due to injury.
Streak continues: Quinton Dunbar’s 3-yard catch in the third quarter extended his program record for consecutive games with at least one reception to 27.
Follow Phillip Heilman on Twitter @phillip_heilman.
Quinton Dunbar attempts to catch a pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter of Florida’s 26-20 loss to Georgia Southern on Nov. 23, 2013, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
