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Florida Football: Gators can’t stop Drew Lock, stunned by Missouri

By Dana Becker

GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 03: Drew Lock #3 of the Missouri Tigers rushes against Brad Stewart Jr. #2 of the Florida Gators during the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 03: Drew Lock #3 of the Missouri Tigers rushes against Brad Stewart Jr. #2 of the Florida Gators during the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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There used to be a time when teams didn’t even think about earning a win in Florida football’s “Swamp.” That isn’t the case any longer.

Missouri scored 21 unanswered points on Saturday in claiming a 38-17 victory over the Gators, giving Drew Lock and company a signature win on the year.

Lock, a future NFL draft pick, completed 24-of-32 for 250 yards with three touchdowns, while Damarea Crockett ran for 114 yards and also found the end zone. The offense was helped by the return of Emanuel Hall, who had four receptions for 77 yards and a 4-yard score to make it 35-10 midway through the third.

Sophomore Kyle Trask, who had not attempted a pass since late in September vs. Tennessee, replaced an injured Feleipe Franks at quarterback, completing 10 of 18 for 126 yards and a touchdown.

Trask, though, couldn’t do enough to overcome a Florida defense that was gutted to the tune of 471 total yards, including 221 on the ground. Missouri averaged almost eight yards per pass and 5.3 yards per rush, accumulating 22 first downs.

Last year, Missouri claimed a 45-16 victory over Florida in the debut of Randy Shannon as head coach after he replaced Jim McElwain. The Gators ended up hiring Dan Mullen to lead the program this offseason.

After opening the season with three wins outside of the SEC, the Tigers were dealt three consecutive defeats to league foes Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. They have since rebounded to go 2-1, including a 15-14 loss to Kentucky last week, giving him a 5-4 record with dates against Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Arkansas to close.

Florida, meanwhile, has seen its season crumble, losing out on a chance to claim the SEC East when they lost to Georgia last week. This marks two consecutive defeats by the Gators, allowing over 30 points and scoring just 34 combined.

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Prior to the string of defeats, Florida had won four in a row, highlighted by a 27-19 win at home vs. LSU. This was also the first time this year that Franks did not lead the team in passing.

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