DJ Lagway threw a touchdown pass, Trey Smack kicked four field goals and Florida’s defense dominated in a 33-8 victory over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday in Tampa, Fla.
Lagway completed 22 of 35 passes for 305 yards with two interceptions and improved to 6-1 as a starter as the Gators (8-5) won their fourth consecutive game.
The Gators allowed just 194 yards to the Green Wave (9-5), who lost their third consecutive game. Florida had three interceptions of Ty Thompson, who completed 11 of 29 for 125 yards in his first college start in place of regular-season starter Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke.
It was 9-0 Florida on three field goals after Smack kicked a 24-yarder with 9:11 left in the third quarter.
On the fourth play of the ensuing possession, Thompson was intercepted by Alfonzo Allen Jr., giving Florida the ball at its 40. Six plays later the Gators finally reached the end zone when Lagway’s 7-yard pass to Tony Livingston produced a touchdown and a 16-0 lead at the end of the third.
Florida got the ball back at the Tulane 47 when Thompson was stopped for a 2-yard loss on fourth and 2. Early in the fourth quarter, Smack kicked a 30-yard field goal that increased the lead to 19-0.
The Green Wave turned the ball over on downs again at their 34, and four plays later KD Daniels picked up Lagway’s fumble and advanced it 27 yards for a 26-0 lead.
Anthony Rubio rushed 9 yards for the Gators’ final touchdown with 1:11 remaining, and Thompson threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Mario Williams and added a two-point pass with 29 seconds left.
On Tulane’s first offensive play, Thompson was intercepted by Trikweze Bridges, leading to Smack’s 34-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
On the second play of the second quarter, the Green Wave’s Patrick Durkin was wide right on a 35-yard field goal attempt and the Gators drove to Smack’s 44-yard field goal and a 6-0 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media