On Saturday night, Billy Napier’s Florida Gators entered the field with the chance to record the team’s first winning run of three games since the 2020 campaign.
Though it wasn’t easy, the team defeated Charlotte in Florida’s last practice before going into the thick of their SEC schedule.
All Gators examines the positive, negative, and ugly aspects of the Gators’ 22-7 victory over the 49ers.The Gators now have a real kicker.
With UF’s well-documented special teams struggles thus far this season, it may have taken longer than anticipated, but sophomore Trey Smack cemented himself as Florida’s placekicker against Charlotte.
The point was reached in Adam Mihalek’s troubles during Florida’s victory over Tennessee. The Gators substituted him for Smack after he failed his first attempt at a field goal and extra point, and Smack converted both of his efforts as well as a 27-yard field goal.
The in-game shakeup created a kicking competition ahead of UF’s Week 4 bout against the 49ers between Mihalek and Smack. The latter was announced as the starter pregame.
He was thrust into the spotlight due to Florida’s offensive struggles (which you can read more about in the Bad section) on Saturday, proving his worth as a strong-legged, reliable contributor. Smack knocked through all five field goal attempts, including a 54-yarder, to post 15 of the Gators’ 22 total points.His performance accomplished more than just take first place. It appeared to have resolved a significant issue within the usually inadequate special teams team.
Bad: Offense in the red zone
Florida’s night was highlighted by field goals. The Gators’ incapacity to shut drives led to such fact.
Even though UF made five visits to the red zone and scored on each one, they had a very difficult time earning six points in those possessions.
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