Click here for linkTurnovers have been a key in the past three games between UF and Alabama, and the team with the most takeaways usually wins.
on the team’s first possession of the game last season, Florida faced a fourth-and-goal from the Alabama 2-yard line. Instead of attempting a game-tying field goal, the Gators went for the touchdown, a statement score.
But linebacker Nico Johnson picked off Trey Burton’s jump pass, Alabama marched down the field and scored a touchdown, and Florida’s hopes of an upset were dashed.
“That offensive drive kind of broke us down a little bit and everybody kind of separated a little bit,” safety Josh Evans said. “[It] broke us down early in the game and we lost focus.”
Turnovers have been key in each of the past three games between No. 12 Florida (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) and No. 3 Alabama (4-0, 1-0), and if the Gators want to pull off a statement win in Will Muschamp’s first year on the job, they must protect the ball.
After Burton’s interception last year with UF trailing 17-0, quarterback John Brantley threw another on the Gators’ third drive. The Crimson Tide capitalized, scoring 14 points off UF giveaways and entered halftime with a commanding 24-3 lead.