Notable stats from the Florida Gators' win over McNeese

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators opened their 2023 home schedule Saturday with a 49-7 win over McNeese. Florida extended its nation-leading home opener winning streak to 34-straight wins.

Here are five notable stats from the game.

Stifling defense from the Gators

Florida posted its best defensive performance in terms of fewest total yards allowed (112) in 86 games — since Sept. 17, 2016 vs. North Texas (53).

“I think that’s the best defensive performance in how many years? 86 games or something like that,” UF coach Billy Napier said. “Look, every time I turn around out there, I see a freshman running around. Defense was ready to play, and I think we’ll continue to get better.”

No fly zone in the secondary

The Gators allowed their fewest passing yards (66) since Sept. 1, 2018 against Charleston Southern. McNeese junior quarterback Nate Glantz finished with just 62 yards on 6 of 13 passing and was sacked twice.

“The pass rush is like top when it comes to defensive backs. You disrupt the pass of the quarterback, it helps us out on the back end,” Florida redshirt junior defensive back Jaydon Hill said. “I feel like this game, we took advantage of it, and we’ve just got to keep getting better and just disrupting timing. That’s what it’s all about.”

Strong start by QB Graham Mertz

Graham Mertz’s 526 passing yards in his first two career games at Florida ranks second in program history behind Shane Matthews’ 599 in 1990. They are the only two Florida quarterbacks to eclipse 300 passing yards in their first-career games as Gators.

Mertz opened his UF career with back-to-back games with a completion percentage above 70.0 percent, completing 14 of 17 passes for 82.4 percent against McNeese. The redshirt junior has completed 73.8 percent of his passes (45-for-61) through two games.

The scored touchdowns on their first seven drives against McNeese and Mertz orchestrated six of them, capped by his 50-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Ricky Pearsall.

“He’s just in a good place. He showed some toughness last week. I think he’s earned the respect of the players with how much he’s improved. This guy has grown a lot as a player since the first day he got here,” Napier said Mertz.

“I think what you see out there is a product of a lot of hard work, and I really believe if we can continue to grow up around him and play better around him, he’s got a chance to be a really good player for us.”

Four first-half rushing touchdowns

In the first half, Florida scored four rushing touchdowns in a single half for the first time since Sept. 5, 2009 vs. Charleston Southern.

UF also saw four different players score a touchdown in a half for the first time since Sept. 5, 2015 vs. New Mexico State.

“Well, we got guys like 2 (Montrell Johnson Jr.) and 7 (Trevor Etienne) who are extremely good and gifted athletes, so I think just getting the ball in their hands early, you can’t go wrong with that,” Pearsall said. “So, just getting the running game going early I think helps the passing game.”

Eugene Wilson III makes the start

Eugene Wilson III became the first Gators true freshman wide receiver to start a home opener since Antonio Callaway in 2015 vs. New Mexico State.

Wilson III finished with a career-high four receptions and 36 yards with his first-career touchdown.

“I think he’s a very talented player, very unique. He’s a very twitchy guy,” Pearsall said of Wilson. “He’s one of those guys where you’ve got to get the ball in his hands in space, so I think we were going out there and trying to do that, get him going.

“Because the young guys, it’s like, they get in the Swamp and it’s new to them, but I don’t think the lights are too big for that kid. I think he’s going to be a big player for us, big impact guy, so I’m excited for him.”