GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s home finale turned out to be a much-needed feelgood story.
There was an emotional senior day ceremony. There was an offensive outburst. There was quarterback John Brantley’s touchdown reception. There was walk-on Gary Beemer’s unlikely score.
Maybe more important, there was an easy victory - the kind the Gators haven’t enjoyed very often this season.
Jordan Reed accounted for four touchdowns, including an unexpected pass to Brantley, and Florida beat Appalachian State 48-10 Saturday.
The Gators turned in their best offensive performance of the season in gaining 547 yards of total offense, snapped a three-game losing streak at home and gave 23 seniors a positive finale in the Swamp.
“I think everybody associated with our program needed that one,” Florida Coach Urban Meyer said.
In a season with an almost equal number of ups as downs, it didn’t matter that it came against a team from the Football Championship Subdivision.
The Gators (7-4) scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions, led 35-0 early in the third quarter and enjoyed their third lopsided victory of the season. It was the team’s first victory at home since Sept. 25 against Kentucky.
“We needed it a lot and weneed it to roll into next week,” said center Mike Pouncey, referring to Florida’s game at rival Florida State. “We need to build some of these guys’ confidence back up going into a big-time game, a rivalry game. This is another must-win for us. If we win this one, there will be a lot of proud guys on this team.”
Appalachian State (9-2) lost for the second time in three weeks. Nonetheless, the Mountaineers almost certainly will get a bye in the first round of the FCS playoffs that begin next week.
“[Florida’s] had two or three really tough games, but that happens,” Appalachian State Coach Jerry Moore said. “I know one thing: Their kids play hard and they are very well coached and they bounce back.”
The Gators, coming off a 36-14 home loss to South Carolina that knocked them out of contention for theSEC’s Eastern Division title, started the day by honoring a senior class that expected much more than a mediocre bowl game.
It was an emotional ceremony for several guys, especially Pouncey and safety Ahmad Black. Both had tears rolling down their cheeks as they ran onto the field, hugged Meyer and gave flowers to their mothers.
Black, Pouncey and their teammates responded by making quick work of the Mountaineers.
“We’re playing for pride right now,” Pouncey said. “That’s all we’ve been talking about.”
Sports, Pages 35 on 11/21/2010