TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — One game after tying the school record for most receptions in a game and making his imprint as Florida’s go-to receiver, Demarcus Robinson was relatively quiet against Alabama on Saturday.
The sophomore caught the first pass of the game — a four-yard sideline pass from Jeff Driskel — but failed to make in impact on the boxscore for the remainder of the first half. Driskel targeted Robinson just four times in the first 30 minutes.
Robinson finished the game with two catches for 14 yards and was targeted on seven different occasions.
In addition to Robinson, Matt Jones had a subpar night.
After rushing for 156 yards against Kentucky, the junior running back managed just 37 yards on 12 carries.
Offensive line plagued against Alabama: The injury bug hit the Gators’ offensive line hard during Florida’s 42-21 loss to No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
Redshirt senior Chaz Green — who is starting at left tackle in place of the injured D.J. Humphries (ankle) — went down on just the second play with a right leg injury, but returned on the next drive. While he was off the field, Florida had David Sharpe and Rod Johnson — a true freshman and a redshirt freshman, respectively — manning both tackle spots.
Then early in the second quarter, starting right guard Trenton Brown was taken to the locker room with a high ankle sprain.
Brown did not return, and Florida’s offense suffered mightily because of it. The Gators averaged just 3.6 yards per play against the Crimson Tide after averaging 6.6 yards per play through its first two games of the season.
"It’s tough," center Max Garcia said. "Because as the offensive line, you build chemistry with those guys. All practice you’ve been practicing with those guys right beside you … and it is a little difficult when you have a new guy in there, but when a man’s number is called, he’s got to be ready to play."
Cummings continues to draw penalties: For the second straight week, Darious Cummings was at the center of a costly penalty.
In the second quarter and Alabama facing a second-and-7 from its 47-yard line, Cummings received a 15-yard penalty after he hit Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims after he ran out of bounds on a six-yard gain.
Alabama scored on a two-yard pass to fullback Jalston Fowler four plays later to take a 21-14 lead.
In Florida’s 36-30 triple overtime win against Kentucky last weekend, Cummings was penalized for grabbing running back Braylon Heard’s facemask during the second overtime period.
The Wildcats scored a game-tying field goal four plays later to force a third overtime period.
Christy adding to punts: Kyle Christy averaged 52.7 yards on seven punt attempts against Alabama.
On his final punt attempt, the senior booted a kick 66 yards, one yard shy of his career high of 67 set against Auburn on Oct. 15, 2011.
Christy is now averaging 50.4 yards per punt on the season.
Notes: Florida’s longest play of the game was Driskel’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Valdez Showers to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.
-All 21 of the Gators’ points against the Crimson Tide came off of turnovers.
-For the second time this season, Clay Burton led Florida in receptions.
The senior tight end caught three passes for a team-high 33 yards.
-Redshirt sophomore Alex McCalister recorded his second sack of the season during the third quarter against the Crimson Tide and is now tied with linebacker Neiron Ball for the team lead.
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Demarcus Robinson (11) reacts after an incompleted pass during Florida's 21-42 loss to Alabama on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
