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No. 14 Florida Gators Take Care of Business Against Georgia In Jacksonville 24-10

By  //  October 29, 2016

Florida Gators Move To 6-1 (4-1)

ABOVE VIDEO: No. 14 Florida maintained its lead atop the SEC East by dispatching Georgia on Saturday.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA (FloridaGators) – The Gators drove across the Hart Bridge on Saturday afternoon, got off the bus, and did what they have done to Georgia for most of the last quarter century.

They won.

Florida’s defense stifled Bulldogs freshman quarterback Jacob Eason with a steady pass rush, held running back Nick Chubb in check, and did enough offensively to exit EverBank Field on Saturday night with a 24-10 victory over Georgia.

Georgia took an early 3-0 lead after an interception by Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio on the Gators’ first drive.

Tight end C’yontai Lewis gave the Gators their first lead when he took a short pass from Del Rio and raced 19 yards for a score. After Georgia went ahead 10-7 on Eason’s 14-yard touchdown throw to Riley Ridley in the second quarter, the Gators took control.

UF tailback Jordan Scarlett carries in the first half of his team's 24-10 win Saturday. (Florida Gators Image)
UF tailback Jordan Scarlett carries in the first half of his team’s 24-10 win Saturday. (Florida Gators Image)

Florida led 14-10 at halftime on Jordan Scarlett’s 2-yard run late in the second quarter, and extended the lead to 21-10 on Antonio Callaway’s 4-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

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That was it for the Bulldogs. Florida’s final points came on Eddy Pineiro’s 38-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Here is a closer look at the Florida-Georgia game:

WHAT IT MEANS:

• The Gators maintain control of first place in the SEC East. A Florida loss on Saturday would have moved Kentucky, which defeated Missouri, into first in the division. However, the Gators beat the Bulldogs for the third consecutive year to keep the bid to defend their SEC East title alive.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

• Florida receiver Antonio Callaway’s 4-yard scoring run not only gave the Gators a comfortable lead, he made history. Callaway’s score made him the first player in school history to account for a touchdown via a throw, catch, run, kickoff return and punt return.

STAGGERING STATISTIC:

• Florida lost momentum in the Florida-Georgia rivalry under Will Muschamp, losing three consecutive seasons until upsetting No. 9 Georgia in Muschmp’s final season. The Gators are 2-0 in the rivalry under head coach Jim McElwain, and since 1990 when Steve Spurrier arrived at Florida, UF is 21-6 against the Bulldogs.

SUBPLOT:

• The chess match between McElwain and Georgia first-year coach Kirby Smart was mostly a defensive battle. McElwain was Alabama’s offensive coordinator for four years at Alabama while Smart was the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator.

UP NEXT:

• The Gators travel to Arkansas next week for their first trip to Fayetteville since 2008. The Razorbacks (5-3, 1-3) have a bye this week after a 56-3 loss to Auburn a week ago.