QUICK HITTER: State slide continues in 45-28 loss to Florida

Florida had 503 yards of total offense and completed 93 percent of its passes on the way to rolling over Mississippi State, 45-28.

The Bulldog defense surrendered a touchdown on all but three drives in the game. UF starting quarterback Graham Mertz was 19 of 21 passing for 201 yards and three touchdowns while true freshman DJ Lagway finished 7 of 7 for 76 yards and added three more carries for 22 yards.

The visitors averaged 6.3 yards per carry with 36 rushes for 226 yards. The Gators were 6 of 9 on 3rd downs.

For the third-straight week, the Bulldogs dug themselves a first half hole. After being outscored 55-6 in the first half against Arizona State and Toledo, MSU was trailing 28-7 in the first half before getting a touchdown run from quarterback Blake Shapen and trailed 28-14 at the half.

State closed that lead to 28-21 after Shapen found Jordan Mosley for a 13-yard catch in the third quarter, but a 4th down stop from the 1 yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter spelled the end for the Bulldogs.

Shapen led an offense that had 480 yards and a season-high 240 yards on the ground. The quarterback finished 13 of 21 for 140 yards and a touchdown and had 12 carries for 32 yards and a score before leaving the game with an apparent injury in the fourth.

True freshman Michael Van Buren was 7 of 13 for 100 yards. Davon Booth and Johnnie Daniels led the way with 29 combined carries for 178 yards and two scores.

BIG PICTURE:

Florida: Gator coach Billy Napier has a seat hotter than any other coach in America and that likely won’t change after the result on Saturday. With a bye week on the way, the intrigue grows for UF.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are in the middle of a major rebuild and that continues to be more evident each week. State’s defense was non-resistant against a Gator offense that has struggled to score against the two other Power 4 teams they’ve played this season.

UP NEXT:

Florida: Hosts Central Florida on October 5

Mississippi State: Travels to Texas on September 28

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