GAINESVILLE, Fla. _ The game never was in doubt. Florida's future at quarterback is sure to be.
During the No. 13 Gators' 63-3 rout of Idaho, first-year freshman Emory Jones saw his most extensive action this season.
While an announced crowd of 81,467 looked on during UF's Senior Day in the Swamp, Jones showed flashes of what all the fuss is about. He also set the stage for a quarterback race with Feleipe Franks next spring.
Many wondered this past offseason whether Jones would push Franks for playing time, but the 18-year-old was not ready.
Against overmatched Idaho, Jones showed he is getting closer to playing the position at the college level.
Idaho, a Football Championship Subdivision school receiving a $1.2 million payday, entered the day allowing an average of 34.9 points and 440.8 yards. The Gators (8-3) tallied their season-high in points and finished with a season-high 600 yards, marking UF's second straight game with 500 yards.
When a 4-yard pass from Jones to freshman tailback Dameon Pierce gave UF a 56-0 lead, the Gators were averaging nine yards per play.
Regardless of the quality of competition, Jones showcased impressive arm strength and accuracy, finishing 12-for-16 passing for 125 yards and two touchdowns. In the pocket, he generally looked poised. Out of the pocket, Jones showed his speed and elusiveness on a 15-yard run on the opening drive of the second half.
Jones later fumbled a snap out of the shotgun formation _ his one serious misstep on the day. It also was his third fumble in three appearances and limited time this season.
Jones will have several months to iron out the kinks and prepare to unseat Franks, who has started every game this season for the Gators (8-3).
Franks did little wrong against the hapless Vandals (4-7).
The redshirt sophomore helped the Gators to a 42-0 lead before Jones took over. Franks exited the game 19-for-27 passing for 274 yards and three touchdowns.
Franks did, however, miss a handful of throws, including a long pass to Van Jefferson, who was wide open.
Meanwhile, Jones' first throw of the game was down field and on target to tight end Kyle Pitts, but bounced off the hands of the first-year freshman. Jones threw several other darts, including a 12-yard pass on third-and-11 to Trevon Grimes on the sideline and a 20-yard throw in the middle of the field to tight end Lucas Krull.
Jones would complete passes to seven different players on a day when plenty of Gators got in on the act.
Defensive back Chaucey Gardner-Johnson started of things quickly.
On the game's first play, he picked off Idaho quarterback Mason Petrino, son of coach Paul Petrino, and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown six seconds into the game.
The Gators never looked back.
Following a three-and-out by Idaho, the Gators needed just three plays to go 47 yards to take a 14-0 lead. Franks followed a 27-completion to senior tight end C'yontai Lewis with a 17-yard touchdown run following a smooth play fake that fooled the Idaho defense.
UF did not need its leading rusher, Jordan Scarlett, or top scorer, Freddie Swain, to dominate the Vandals.
A week after he rushed for a 159 yards, Scarlett touched the football just twice. He gained three yards on a screen pass and took a hand-off from Franks and flipped it to Josh Hammond on a reverse for a 21-yard touchdown.
While Scarlett rested and Lamical Perine ran six times for 34 yards, Pierce rushed a career-high 13 times for 77 yards.
Five different Gators caught touchdowns, including Hammond, who recorded his first two-touchdown game (one receiving, one rushing).
A 52-yard touchdown by Kyle Pitts was the first of his career and exhibited his breakaway speed at 6-foot-6, 246 pounds. Lewis surpassed his season-total 40 receiving yards with three receptions for 57 yards against Idaho.
A 38-yard field goal by Idaho's Cade Coffey with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter ended UF's hopes for a shutout. By then, it might have been the only suspense remaining on a sun-splashed Saturday in Gainesville.
Going forward, much of the curiosity surrounding Dan Mullen's Gators will center on Jones.
But unless Mullen's plan changes during the next two games, a visit Saturday to Florida State and a bowl game, Jones will enter the spring a redshirt freshman with four seasons of eligibility.
