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Josh Heupel talks after loss in Gainesville

On3 imageby:Austin Price•09/16/23•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida may have entered the game just shy of a touchdown underdog but they played like the favorite in running its consecutive wins at home against Tennessee to ten in a row. After the game, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed his team’s opening conference loss.

Graham Mertz was masterful in third down as the Gators scored 26 unanswered in the first half after a Tennessee touchdown from Joe Milton to Ramel Keyton started the scoring.

Trevor Etienne ran 62 yards for a touchdown to get Florida on the board just four plays later but Mihalek’s extra point attempt was blocked. Florida converted on third-and-5 on the play before the long touchdown run.

Milton would toss up a pass under pressure in the second quarter leading to his first interception of his Tennessee career. The Gators took the pick back 39 yards to the Tennessee 18 and scored three plays later to extend the lead. Mertz scored Florida’s third rushing touchdown of the game on a quarterback sneak on third-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Heupel talked about his senior signal-caller after the game.

Late in the first half Mertz faced pressure up the middle, but threw complete to Johnson and he did the rest on an 18-yard touchdown, breaking a tackle and making another Tennessee defender miss on his way to the end zone. The Vol defense struggled on the night to simply get off the field.

Tennessee tried to rally in the second half but couldn’t capitalize on multiple possessions into Florida territory. The finally found the end zone when Milton hit Bru McCoy for 55 yards.

Tennessee returns home next week to play UTSA at 4 pm at Neyland Stadium.

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