Georgia upends Gators for 42-7 victory

Georgia running back Sony Michel (1) runs past the Florida defense including defensive back Chauncey Gardner Jr. (23), and cornerback Marco Wilson (3) for a touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Georgia running back Sony Michel (1) runs past the Florida defense including defensive back Chauncey Gardner Jr. (23), and cornerback Marco Wilson (3) for a touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-Sony Michel put third-ranked Georgia up big early and put Florida away late, scoring on two long runs in a 42-7 drubbing Saturday that might have been the final game for Gators coach Jim McElwain.

Michel finished with 137 yards rushing on just six carries and helped the Bulldogs remain unbeaten and in control in the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division.

Nick Chubb also scored for the Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 SEC), who ended a three-game losing streak in "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" and started 8-0 for the first time since 2002.

Lift a glass to Georgia.

Pour one out for McElwain?

Florida (3-4, 3-3) started the day by responding to a tweet from a sports lawyer who said Florida and McElwain's agent, Jimmy Sexton, have engaged in buyout negotiations and are "miles apart."

Athletic director Scott Stricklin released a statement several hours before the game saying the buyout report was inaccurate.

"No one representing the University of Florida or our athletic department has had any conversations with Coach McElwain or his representatives regarding a buyout of his contract," Stricklin said.

But Stricklin stopped short of giving McElwain a vote of confidence after one of the strangest weeks in program history.

McElwain created a firestorm Monday when he said Florida players and families received death threats amid the team's struggles. Stricklin met with McElwain in hopes of gathering more information and helping alleviate any safety concerns. McElwain rebuffed their efforts, prompting a statement from the athletic department that essentially criticized McElwain for being uncooperative.

McElwain backtracked a bit Wednesday but stopped short of apologizing and again refused to provide details about the threats.

His reaction raised questions about his relationship with Stricklin and prompted speculation about whether he even wants to be at Florida any longer.

Here are the big questions: Would Florida attempt to fire McElwain with cause and avoid a $12.9 million buyout or are they ready to part ways regardless?

Florida's performance against Georgia surely doesn't bode well for McElwain's job security.

The Bulldogs scored on their first three possessions and led 21-0 before the Gators picked up a first down. Georgia used three huge plays to build a three-touchdown lead.

Jake Fromm-the guy one Florida player openly questioned early in the week-found D'Andre Swift in the flat for a 39-yard gain that set up Chubbs' 6-yard touchdown run. Dominick Sanders intercepted Feleipe Franks' pass on the ensuing possession, and Fromm threw a perfect, 17-yard pass to Javon Wims in the corner of the end zone. Michel added his first of two scores, a 74-yarder midway through the second quarter.

Michel added 45-yarder in the third, and the rout was on.

The only questioned that remained-other than McElwain's future-was whether Georgia would end Florida's NCAA scoring record. The Gators haven't been shut out since a 16-0 loss to Auburn in 1988. They scored with 2:42 remaining to extend the record to 368 games with points.

 

South Carolina 34,
Vanderbilt 27

COLUMBIA, S.C.-Jake Bentley ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead South Carolina to a 34-27 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday that assured the Southeastern Conference's East Division race would go on at least one more week.

Bentley was 19-of-29 for 174 yards and ran six times for 47 yards, including his first scores rushing in his college career for the Gamecocks (6-2, 4-2).

Vanderbilt (3-5, 0-5) had two players ejected for targeting, including linebacker Charles Wright-the team's sack leader-on a hit on Bentley just after he released the ball.

"I saw a young man tackle a quarterback," Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. "We've got to get that right."

Bentley, who took advantage of open field in front of him for several big runs, said he is used to taking shots. "Anytime a quarterback runs it's like a little minnow with a pool of sharks," the sophomore said.

The Commodores finished with 10 penalties for 100 yards. The final one might have been the most costly. A holding penalty by tight end Sam Dobbs stalled a potential game-tying drive and Kyle Shurmur overthrew Caleb Scott on fourth-and-2 with just over a minute to go.

Shurmur threw for a season-best 333 yards and four touchdowns.

A.J. Turner ran 15 times for 121 yards and was the first Gamecock 100-yard rusher this season.

South Carolina kept itself in the SEC East race with the win. If the Gamecocks beat No.2 Georgia next week, they will be only one game behind the Bulldogs and own the tiebreaker.

Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp plans nothing special this week to emphasize the stakes.

"Our guys know it's an important game. They understand what is standing in front of them and me telling them is not going to make any difference," Muschamp said.

 

Missouri 52, Connecticut 12

STORRS, Conn.-Drew Lock threw for 377 yards and five touchdowns and Missouri routed Connecticut 52-12 on Saturday night, winning back-to-back games for the first time since the start of the 2015 season.

Lock, who played just under three quarters, picked apart the nation's worst pass defense, finishing with a career high 31 completions on 37 attempts.

The Tigers (3-5) gave up a safety after an errant snap on the opening drive, then scored on their next five possessions to lead 31-5 at halftime.

Lock completed 14 of 15 passes in the first quarter, three of them for touchdowns, including two to freshman tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.

He also hit J'Mon Moore for two scores and hooked up with Johnathon Johnson for a 72-yard catch and run in the third quarter.

The Tigers had 583 yards of offense, 408 through the air.

Bryant Shirreffs completed 19 of 39 passes for 202 yards for UConn (3-5), but was sacked five times.

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