JACKSONVILLE — Battered, bruised and defeated, Florida quarterback Graham Mertz didn’t know what hit him.
The Gators’ fast start against top-ranked Georgia turned into fool’s gold, fleeting hope and another lopsided loss to the Bulldogs — this time a 43-20 decision once again highlighting the gap between the two rivals.
“It got away quickly,” Mertz said.
For 15 minutes, the Gators looked like they belonged — trading blows and even getting the upper hand on SEC heavyweight Georgia.
But the Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 SEC) didn’t flinch against Billy Napier’s team.
Before long, reality set in, the talent gap revealed itself, questionable play calls backfired and a highly anticipated matchup and golden opportunity for Florida (5-3, 3-2) fizzled as a reported crowd of 76,251 looked on at EverBank Stadium.
“The guys are frustrated,” Mertz said “We know we’re better than that.”
The loss was the latest Gators’ indignity during a one-sided rivalry featuring three straight Bulldogs’ wins and victories in six of the past seven meetings by an average margin of 22 points. Along with last season’s 42-20 win, Georgia now has scored 40 points against Florida for the first time in a series dating to 1916.
“We’ve got work to do to chase them down,” Napier said. “There’s no denying that.”
Unlike the past two matchups, losses by a combined 76-27, Florida seized momentum early and appeared ready to push Georgia, the two-time defending national champions.
An opening drive culminating on a 25-yard touchdown by freshman Eugene Wilson III gave UF a 7-0 lead, marking the first time since 2015 the Gators scored first against the Bulldogs — and that touchdown was by UF’s defense.
Coming off high-scoring efforts against Vanderbilt and South Carolina, Napier’s attack appeared to be humming again. It soon blew a gasket.
After opening with a touchdown, Florida gained 1 yard on 18 plays on five drives, committed two turnovers and allowed four sacks as Georgia pulled away for its 25th straight win.
“We got off schedule and then ultimately we lived in second-and-long, third-and-long there — the second, third, fourth, fifth possession of the game,” Napier said. “When you play that group you have to stay on schedule.”
Amid the collapse was a play call by Napier that could be remembered for some time.
Trailing just 10-7 and facing fourth-and-1 from their 34 to open the second quarter, the Gators tried for a first down by snapping the ball between the legs of Mertz, who was under center, to tailback Trevor Etienne.
Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon sniffed out the play and tackled Etienne for a 3-yard loss. Tailback Daijun Edwards scampered for a 20-yard touchdown three plays later to push the Bulldogs’ lead to 17-7.
Napier defended the call.
“At that point in the game we felt it was going to be a point total that we needed to get to to win the game,” he said. “Felt we had a good play. We’re close there.”
Mertz was diplomatic when asked about the play.
“It definitely shifted the momentum,” he said. “I trust Coach Napier and his play call with all my heart. Anytime he calls a play it’s my job to go out there and execute it.”
Breakdowns on the Gators’ offensive line soon followed.
The second of consecutive sacks on Mertz ended in a fumble recovered by Georgia on the UF 11 to set up another Edwards’ score, this time from 2 yards out.
Georgia entered with 12 sacks, but had four in the game’s first 20 minutes.
“There were multiple times in there I could have done a better job giving us the right call or throwing to a different person,” Mertz said. “When you get behind the sticks, it’s never easy — especially against a good defense.”
Now comes the hard part.
The Gators once again must rally after a one-side loss, similar to defeats at Utah to open the season and Sept. 30 at Kentucky.
Each time, Florida got back on track, but the final month of the regular season shows no let-up following Saturday’s visit from struggling Arkansas. The Gators then travel to LSU Nov. 11, Missouri Nov. 18 and return home to host Florida State Nov. 25.
UF is one win away from bowl eligibility as it aims to avoid its third consecutive losing season.
“You’ve got to turn the page,” Napier said. “We’ll go through this thing with a fine-tooth comb. It’s important that the experience that we had today, that we learn from that, all parts of our organization and certainly the players in that locker room.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
