From the Vault: Florida Gators win with Train Right Jill Big Ben In
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It’s 2015 and first year Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain is being introduced to the Florida Gators rivalry with the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida holds a ten-game winning streak over Tennessee. However, the Gators have looked hapless on offense for most of the first three quarters with new starting quarterback Will Grier.
Florida scored first when Kelvin Taylor dove into the endzone from five yards out but Tennessee scored the game’s next 20 points. The Gators would pull closer with Taylor’s second rushing touchdown. It made the game 20-14 with time left in the third but the Vols would score to make it a two possession game once again. Grier would find receiver Brandon Powell in the endzone to make it 27-21 with just over four minutes left.
The Gators’ defense forced a three-and-out. A 56-yard punt was returned 12 yards by Antonio Callaway. That set Florida up on its own 41 yard line with 2:08 left to play. A four-yard loss on first down followed by two incompletions made it fourth and 14 with just over two minutes to play.
Train Right Jill, Big Ben In
The call came in to Grier.
Train Right Jill, Big Ben In.
An interesting name but each word tells the players where to line up and what to run.
Train right sent three receivers to the right side of the formation. Facing a fourth-and-14, the play isn’t designed to score. Two receivers ran digs, instructed to just get to the first down marker, get down, and keep the drive alive.
Grier dropped into a clean pocket. His head first turned left, where Demarcus Robinson was the lone receiver on that side of the field. Grier scanned to the right where the freshman Callaway was open. He hit callaway in the chest as Malik Foreman collapsed down, but didn’t maintain outside leverage. Callaway planted his right foot into the turf of Florida Field and turned 180 degrees to his left.
There are three Tennessee defenders within yards of Callaway. He’s been instructed to go down. Florida has picked up an improbable first down and Florida will have time on the clock.
With Callaway’s speed, Emmanuel Moseley (12) and Malik Foreman (13) have already taken themselevs out of the play. Brian Randolph (37) might be able to make the stop or force Callaway out of bounds but Powell will soon take him out of the play entirely.
Callaway turns, Mosely and Foreman are turned into spectators, might as well count them towards the official attendance of 90,527 that day. They would give chase, but that just gave them the best seats in the house for touchdown. Powell’s momentum carried him a few steps but when he turns around he’s ready to launch his body into Randolph, springing what turned into a 63-yard pass-and-catch for a touchdown.
Legendary voice of the Gators, Mick Hubert, lost his mind. Lee McGriff claimed he’d seen magic.
Game Rewind: Florida Gators beat Tennessee 28-27
The game wasn’t finished yet. There was still 1:26 on the clock. Tennessee, led by Josh Dobbs, drove all the way down to the Florida 37-yard line. Sophomore kicker Aaron Medley lined up from the Gator logo at midfield. Medley’s 55-yard try would slip just right, of the post.
The Gators’ rushed the field in triumph. They had grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat and extended a streak over their hated rivals. Florida will look to extend another streak this week in Gainesville, winning their tenth in a row at home over Tennessee. It wouldn’t be a streak without the call from the sideline.
Train right Jill, Big Ben in.
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