GAINESVILLE, Fla. — If there were any questions about how No. 10 Florida would respond from its first loss of the season and a two-week shutdown from a coronavirus outbreak, they were answered just before halftime Saturday night.
Yes, the Gators still have some fight in them.
Down 15 players — including three key members of the secondary — UF rolled to a 41-17 home win over Missouri. The defining moment of the night was more UFC than SEC.
It came after the whistle of the final play of the first half. A Missouri penalty gave the Gators (3-1) one untimed down near midfield, and Kyle Trask used it on a Hail Mary that fell incomplete. But Tigers edge rusher Trajan Jeffcoat hit UF's star quarterback high and late after the throw.
That, apparently, set coach Dan Mullen off.
Mullen steamed onto the field and had to be restrained by a staffer as he headed toward the officials. Both teams converged nearby, kicking off a scuffle that, at times, looked like an angry mosh pit.
Multiple players threw punches. Several others shoved. Three were ejected: UF starting defensive lineman Zachary Carter and freshman linebacker Antwuan Powell plus Missouri defensive end Tre Williams. Every player on either team received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
When players dispersed and headed to the locker rooms, the tension kept brewing. Mullen was still fuming when he went back to the officials and Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz. He had to be restrained by coaches and security for a second time.
UF's limited crowd roared as Mullen, waving his arms, finally headed into the tunnel for halftime. But he still wasn't done. Mullen went back toward the field again, waving his arms frantically and sending the socially distanced fans into a frenzy.
The crowd kept going. When Mullen and the Gators retook the field after halftime, fans began chanting "DAN MULL-EN!"
If one of Mullen's goals was to fire up his team from a somewhat sluggish start, it worked.
UF wasn't bad early but wasn't as crisp as usual, either. An offense that ranked in the top 10 nationally inside the red zone and on third down struggled in both areas. UF had to settle for field goals on its first two trips inside the 20 and missed on its first six third downs.
The Gators started to turn things around in the second quarter and came out reenergized after the brawl.
UF ran Trask three times on the opening drive of the third quarter, perhaps trying to set a fierce, physical tone because of the hit he took 20 minutes earlier. Regardless, Trask's 15-yard rush set up a dazzling touchdown run by Kadarius Toney — one of his three highlight-reel scores on the night.
On defense, UF forced back-to-back three-and-outs by Missouri (2-3) to start the second half. A Gators pass rush that went six consecutive quarters without a sack had two on one drive. By the time UF tacked on a touchdown pass from Trask to Justin Shorter in the final minute of the third, the game was out of reach.
The Tigers were knocked out.
With that out of the way, the Gators can begin focusing on the heavyweight showdown their fans have been buzzing about since January. Florida-Georgia, next week in Jacksonville.
It's unclear whether Saturday's brawl will have any lingering punishments that could spill over into the rivalry matchup at TIAA Bank Field. The SEC's headquarters will surely want to scrutinize every shove and punch for possible suspensions. Mullen's bank account might take a hit, too.
But if Mullen and the Gators wanted to send a message after their coronavirus shutdown and the Aggies' upset, it should be clear throughout the SEC. UF isn't just a finesse offense.
These Gators can fight, too.
