Florida Football Recap: Anthony Richardson continues to struggle, ground game paces Florida’s win against South Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Florida’s slender, three-point victory in opposition to South Florida on Saturday, in The Swamp, was an enormous reduction, and but, equally disturbing for followers of the orange and blue.

For the second sport in-a-row, Gators (2-1) sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson displayed indicators of the inexperienced starter he’s – throwing a pair of interceptions and nil touchdowns within the group’s 31-28 win in opposition to the Bulls (1-2). It marked the third time in Florida’s first three video games Richardson has but to throw a landing this season. He does have a trio of speeding scores to his credit score, however all three of these got here in Florida’s win in opposition to then-No. 7 Utah within the season opener.

To date, Richardson’s stat line reads 41/77 for 423 yards, 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions – a far cry from the numbers Gator followers believed the Gainesville native would produce by this level within the fall marketing campaign.

Fortunate for Head Coach Billy Napier, the Gators speeding assault continues to be the reliable basis of the offense. Montrell Johnson, Trevor Etienne, and Nay’Quan Wright every ran for a landing and accounted for 217 of the group’s 329 yards. Johnson led Florida with 103 yards on simply 6 carries. His 62-yard landing run with 14:49 within the second quarter was the longest run of the sport by both group and put the Gators forward 10-7.

Wright discovered the endzone subsequent for Florida. He scampered within the entrance proper nook from 7-yards out to cap off a 12-play, 88-yard drive that ate up 6:00 to bump the group’s result in 17-10 with 4:45 remaining earlier than halftime. Wright ended up with 37 yards on 6 carries for the sport.

As for Etienne, he scored Florida’s last offensive landing of the competition with 5:50 left within the fourth quarter to place the Gators forward for good, 31-28. He had essentially the most carries of any working again Florida with 8. His longest run of the night was a 16-yard rush.

The Gators have now rushed for 100 or-more-yards in 14 of their final 16 video games. Florida posted its eighth sport of 200-plus speeding yards within the final 16 contests and its second of the 2022 season.

Anthony Richardson might want to enhance rapidly because the group prepares for its first highway sport of the season, once they face No. 11 Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 24.

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