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Opening statement: Gators throw rare touchdown on their first play

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•10/03/22•

ZachAbolverdi

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Florida receiver Justin Shorter on his 75-yard touchdown catch. (Tim Casey/UAA Photo)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It doesn’t get better than opening a game on your first play from scrimmage with a long touchdown pass. Just dropping back, launching a bomb and scoring six right out of the gate. For Gators football fans, many of whom were indoctrinated with the Fun ‘n’ Gun offense, that’s been an unfamiliar experience in recent decades.

They relived the feeling again this weekend during Florida’s 52-17 win over Eastern Washington.

Prior to Sunday, UF had thrown a touchdown on its first offensive snap just twice in the last 30 years. The most recent score was John Brantley’s 65-yard touchdown to Andre Debose in 2011 against Alabama.

That marked the first time the Gators had a TD pass on their opening play since 1992, when Shane Matthews connected with Willie Jackson for a 70-yard scoring strike against Southern Mississippi.

With Matthews in the booth Sunday as Florida’s color analyst, quarterback Anthony Richardson topped the throw by him and Brantley on the first snap from scrimmage against Eastern Washington.

After the Eagles scored a field goal on their opening drive, Richardson ran a fake bootleg with the ensuing offensive play and hit Justin Shorter in stride on a deep post. He hauled in the reception and outran the EWU defensive back into the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown.

Gators coach Billy Napier said the scripted play was installed in their game plan on Thursday.

“That’s a play we’ve carried for a couple weeks now. It really looked good in practice, and the coverage variables fit this week,” Napier said. “Anthony likes it, and we had two good receivers running routes there. Good protection and certainly a good route. It’s great to see Shorter continue to perform at high level. He’s developing nicely.”

The long TD pass tied Richardson’s career high (set last season against USF) and marked a new career-long reception for Shorter. Shorter’s previous career long was a 52-yard grab against South Carolina in 2021.

Both players were coming off career-high performances for the Gators at Tennessee. Richardson threw for 453 yards and scored four total touchdowns, while Shorter set new personal marks for receptions (7) and receiving yards (155).

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