DJ Lagway threw for touchdown and set up with long completion in his return from a strained left hamstring and Florida upset No. 21 LSU 27-16 on Saturday to give Gators first series victory since 2018.
Lagway provided big plays on offense for Florida. Most of the past two losses with injury he connected with Elijah Badger for 23 yard score in first quarter.
Lagway never scrambled but mobile enough to create extra time by moving around pocket.
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Jadan Baugh 55 yard scoring scamper with 3:48 remaining sealed it and put the Gators on verge of becoming bowl eligible.
Florida had dropped eight in a row against top ranked teams and was 1-10 under coach Billy Napier in rivalry matches.
Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier said all week that fans should rush the field name after him if Gators win. But it did not happen.
Florida defense sacked Garrett Nussmeier seven times one more than LSU 6-4,3-3 had allowed in its first nine matches combined.
The game started to turn in Florida favor when TJ Searcy sacked Nussmeier late in third quarter.
Nussmeier fumbled one of his linemen scopped it out of the air then fumble again.
Caleb Banks recovered in what was one of huge plays for defensive tackle.
LSU dominated time of possession in first half and doubled up Florida in plays. Nussmeier struggled to find time in second half.
He completed 27 of 47 passes for 260 yards with touchdown and fumble and Gator defense frustrated him in bouncing back from subpar effort the week before defeat at Texas.
Defeats three consecutively to Alabama, Texas A&M and now Florida makes it impossible for LSU coach Brian Kelly to continue his streak for 10 win season which will end at seven.
Kelly won double digit games in each of last five season at Notre Dame and extended it with consecutive 10 win campaigns in Baton Rouge.
“You have got to be a tough guy and you got to be up for the challenge” Napier said.
“This group has proven they are up for that it is harder than ever in my opinion.
These guys could have pointed fingers and splintered a long time ago. That’s what I am most proud of”
“This is a simple exercise of do you want to fight or not” Kelly said after the defeat.
“Do you want to fight and take responsibility as coaches and players that we are not playing well and we are struggling right now?”
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