By Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel –
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M’s 12th man was rocking Kyle Field, coach Kevin Sumlin’s hyperdrive offense was rolling and the Florida Gators led by sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel were reeling.
When halftime mercifully arrived, Florida trailed by just a touchdown — 17-10. But the Gators looked to be miles behind the Aggies.
Coach Will Muschamp told his players that to catch up, they first had to slow down.
Muschamp, a longtime defensive coordinator in his first head coaching job, said Florida’s front seven was too aggressive getting up field to create running lanes for dazzling freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel and space on the flanks for A&M skill players.
“I told them I’m firing you if you run up the field again,” Muschamp said of his players. “That’s what they want you to do.”
But in the second half, the Aggies’ offense did nothing as the Gators (2-0) pulled out a 20-17 come-from-behind win.
Aggies punter Ryan Epperson first entered the game with 9:26 remaining in the third quarter, but could not get off the field the rest of the day. Texas A&M had twice as many punts (six) as first downs (three) and totaled just 65 yards of offense.
It was an amazing turn of events, given the game clock was the only thing able to stop the Aggies, who ran out of time at the half while in field goal range.
Trailing 7-3, the Aggies offense seized the game’s momentum as Manziel’s mobility and Sumlin’s play calling kept Muschamp’s defense off balance.
The Aggies scored touchdowns on consecutive drives, going 81 and 79 yards without any resistance, and finished the first half with 18 first down and 269 yards.
“They were definitely rolling up and down the field,” Gators offensive guard Joe Halapio said.
Muschamp was not known for his halftime speeches during his first season in Gainesville.
The Gators were 0-5 a season ago when trailing at the half, but Muschamp seemed to have found his voice this time.
He feels like he found his quarterback.
Driskel opened the game looking cool and confident, nothing like a sophomore making his first career start at quarterback.
On the opening series, he completed all three of his passes for 37 passing yards and added five yards rushing as the Gators cruised 75 yards on 13 plays for a 7-3 lead.
The next two quarters we much tougher, and Driskel looked indecisive as the Aggies pass rush bounced him around. Driskel’s second drive ended in back-to-back sacks — A&M dropped him eight times on the day — and the Gators gained just 26 yards the rest of the half.
In the end, Driskel, who finished 13-of-16 for 162 yards, made just enough big plays for the Gators. The biggest was a 39-yard completion early in the fourth quarter to senior Omarius Hines, who capitalized on a mismatch with a linebacker to give the Gators the ball on the Aggies 18.
Two plays later, senior Mike Gillislee scored his second touchdown of the day, this time on a nifty12-yard run along the sideline to give Florida its first lead since the first quarter, at 20-17.
Gillislee gained 83 yards and now has 231 and four touchdowns in two games.
“He’s doing great,” senior lineman James Wilson said, “and only getting better.”
But when the Gators needed him most, Gillislee was on the sideline working with trainers on his sore hip.
Looking to hold a lead with more than eight minutes remaining, Florida was forced to turn to freshman Matt Jones. But the Aggies stuffed Jones for no game on third-and-one from the A&M 18.
It did not matter, though, because the Aggies once-unstoppable offense looked ordinary.
“We played better on the line of scrimmage,” Muschamp said. “There was no magic potion.”
But Saturday’s win on the road in the SEC opener felt magical for the Gators.
With Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreet and the College GameDay crew in College Station, the Gators did not look quite ready for prime time.
They do look ready for next week’s visit to archrival Tennessee.
“It definitely is a big confidence booster for the team and the coaches,” Halapio said. “We’re going to feel good going to Tennessee.”
