GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Backup quarterback Marcel Reed accounted for three touchdowns in his first collegiate start and Texas A&M dominated Florida 33-20 on Saturday in what may have been coach Billy Napier’s final game with the Gators.
Filling in for injured starter Conner Weigman, Reed threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score as the Aggies won a road game for the first time in nearly three years. Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) had dropped 10 straight on the road.
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“He was lights out,” first-year A&M coach Mike Elko said. “He was calm. He was confident. He made throws.”
This one will go down as a signature win for Elko and could end up being Napier’s swan song with the Gators (1-2, 0-1).
Florida looked inept on both sides of the ball and overmatched for the second time this season in the Swamp. The first one, against Miami, turned up the heat on Napier. The latest one could result in Napier getting the boot.
“Ultimately, at some point, it becomes about production,” Napier said.
Napier fell to 12-16 in Gainesville, including 12 losses in his last 15 games against power-conference opponents. This was his seventh consecutive setback in those games, including four at home.
Napier is now 10-6 at Florida Field, giving him more losses in the Swamp in two-plus seasons than Steve Spurrier (68-5) and Urban Meyer (35-5) had in their highly successful stints in Gainesville.
If Florida does fire Napier, it would owe him roughly $27 million. His 28-game tenure would be the shortest in 100 years for the program; James Alward Van Fleet coached 19 games over the 1923-24 seasons, went 12-3-4 and then left to continue his miliary service and eventually became an Army general.
The low point for Napier may have come at halftime Saturday. As the teams were leaving the field, Napier was shown on big screens for a pre-taped, public service announcement to prevent drinking and driving. Napier was wildly booed during it. He was booed again as he ran into the locker room following a TV interview.
“I have no excuse,” Napier said. "I have no negative comment about that. Ultimately, we play a certain way in this arena, you're going to get criticized. This is one of those places where there's history and tradition and expectations. ...
“When you play ugly ball and it doesn't quite look like we all want it to, then, hey, it comes with the territory. I probably would have done the same thing.”
Florida showed some life to start the third quarter. Trailing 20-0, Graham Mertz connected with Elijhah Badger for a 14-yard score. But Reed answered two plays later, hitting Cyrus Allen on a wheel route for 73 yards.
“I wouldn’t say I expected it, but things happen and I have to be ready,” Reed said. “I prepared like I was going to start this week and I got the green light and did what I had to do.”
On the ensuing possession, Bryce Anderson intercepted Mertz’s tipped pass and returned it 45 yards for a 33-7 lead. Anderson shushed the crowd as he neared the goal line. The Florida faithful had long started to empty the Swamp, clearly done with Napier.
“You just got to keep going, keep trusting us and staying together," Florida cornerback Devin Moore said. "It's not always going to be bright, sunny days. You have to ride out the rainstorms.”
Two-QB system
Mertz and highly touted freshman DJ Lagway alternated series. Both struggled early and late. Mertz completed 12 of 15 passes for 195 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Lagway was 6-of-13 passing for 54 yards, with a touchdown and two picks.
Defense was Florida's biggest issue. The Gators allowed 488 yards, including 310 on the ground.
The takeaway
Texas A&M: After a pedestrian offensive showing against Notre Dame in the opener, Reed pumped some life into the Aggies attack and could give Elko a daunting decision to make moving forward.
Florida: It felt over for Napier after the season-opening loss to Miami. It seems more like when than if now. Do the Gators wait for a bye week or pull the rip cord after another home embarrassment?
Up next
Texas A&M: Hosts Bowling Green next Saturday.
Florida: Leaves home for the first time this season when it plays at Mississippi State next Saturday.
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