Neither Florida nor Ohio State had created much offensive fireworks in a disappointing season for both former champions. Everyone knew Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, Tim Tebow or Percy Harvin were not stepping onto the field to save this year’s TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl contest between two former college football powerhouses.
Today’s game in Jacksonville certainly suggests both offenses have a long way to go.
The two teams were as even as their 6-6 records for the most part. The difference in Florida’s 24-17 win over Ohio State in the Gator Bowl was special teams.
Andre DeBose set a Gator Bowl record with a 99-yard kickoff return in the second quarter following a DeVier Posey touchdown reception for OSU. Chris Rainey, Florida’s leading receiver and rusher for the year, also blocked a Ben Buchanan punt that Graham Stewart returned 14 yards for a touchdown. It gave Florida a 21-10 lead with 11:14 left in the third quarter.
The Gators’ defense stymied and stifled the Buckeyes’ offensive attack, preventing Braxton Miller from getting into a passing rhythm and preventing Dan Herron from getting into a running rhythm. In fact, neither team had much offensive traction. That allowed Ohio State to make one last gasp at a comeback late in the fourth quarter.
Miller completed all six of his passes for 82 yards on a seven-play, 88-yard drive to bring the Buckeyes within seven with 57 seconds left. However, the Gators recovered the onside kick, and the sun set on Ohio State’s season.
The drive showed the potential and promise left in Ohio State – even entering a year in which the team cannot go to a bowl game.
Another promising sign: Miller posted a solid 18-for-23 passing performance for 162 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes did not completely open the playbook up to the freshman, but he performed admirably when he had the opportunity.
Ohio State’s defense held strong, too. Florida quarterback John Brantley was feeling pressure for much of the game, fumbling the ball on a hit from behind on the Gators’ first possession. Brantley, though, was able to find rhythm and make some big plays to sustain some drives.
Brantley ended his unceremonious Florida career with 132 yards, a touchdown and an interception. It was a day that summed up his career – with all its promise and most of its disappointment.
The only thing Brantley cannot be disappointed in is that he got his team a bowl win and avoided Florida’s first losing season since the 1970s. Brantley can also hold his head high and say he went 2-0 in bowl games, undefeated in the season-ending exhibitions – something Tim Tebow did not do.
But both teams were, predictably, just marginally effective on offense. Ohio State gained 299 total yards to Florida’s 263. Florida had 131 rushing yards – 71 of them from Chris Rainey – to Ohio State’s 137 – 82 of them from Dan Herron.
The individual units on both ends played as well as they had all season, perhaps gaining more positive yards because of the historical ineffectiveness of the other throughout this season and occasionally in this game. That “Ess-Eee-See” speed on special teams made the difference. And until Urban Meyer, who recruited DeBose, Demps and Rainey to Florida, can take hold of the Ohio State program, players like those three will be the difference in games like this.
The future might look brighter for these former powers. But even after a win for Florida and a new coach for Ohio State, it feels farther off than both would like.
