GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Behind a career performance by quarterback Emory Jones, Florida shook off another slow start and cruised past Tennessee for the Gators’ 16th win in 17 meetings against their rebuilding rival.
The Gators (3-1, 1-1 SEC) pulled away from the Vols (2-2, 0-1) for a 38-14 decision behind Jones’ dual-threat abilities, coach Dan Mullen’s second-half adjustments and fewer mistakes from a vulnerable defense.
Saturday night’s announced crowd of 88,478, just shy of a second straight sellout at the Swamp, witnessed Jones’ most impressive performance with the Gators. The redshirt junior in his fourth collage start rushed for a career-high 144 yards and was 21-of-27 passing — at one point completing 12 consecutive throws — for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
Following a three-and-out possession by Tennessee to open the game, Jones quickly led the Gators down the field 66 yards in 10 plays, capped by a four-yard pass to wide-open tailback Malik Davis.
The Vols, a 19-point underdog, immediately looked overmatched during their SEC opener under former UCF coach Josh Heupel.
Later, though, Heupel’s up-tempo attack twice caught the Gators’ banged-up defense flat-footed and took a 14-10 lead on Hendon Hooker’s 75-yard touchdown pass to JaVonta Payton, who had slipped behind UF sophomore backup safety Mordecai McDaniel.
Earlier, tailback Tiyon Evans scored a 47-yard touchdown catch off a screen pass to tie the game 7-7. Evans left linebacker Amair Burney and several Gators grasping for air, raising red flags a week after Florida missed tackles that allowed Alabama to build a big lead and hold on for a 31-29 win in Gainesville.
“We have to tackle and we can’t have blown coverages,” Mullen said told ESPN at halftime. “Just attention to detail.”
Missing key defenders did not help.
All-SEC cornerback Kaiir Elam was unavailable Saturday night and limped on the sideline after injuring his leg last week against Alabama. Already without inside linebacker Ventrell Miller (torn biceps tendons) and cornerback Jaydon Hill (torn ACL), UF’s defense needs to grow up quickly as the Gators turn their attention to next weekend’s visit to Kentucky.
But a week after a moral victory against the top-ranked Crimson Tide, the Gators overcame a demoralizing start Saturday night behind Jones and Mullen.
Leading 17-14, the Gators got the football to open the second half and drove 78 yards in six plays, culminating with a double-pass from Jones to receiver Trent Whittemore, a former high school quarterback who found tight end Kemore Gamble for a 13-yard score.
The Gators did not look back from there.
