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Dawgone loss: Takeaways as Florida football drops another game to UGA

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Dawgone loss: Takeaways as Florida football drops another game to UGA

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JACKSONVILLE — Florida football has closed the gap on No. 2 Georgia in year three under head coach Billy Napier.

But down to third-string quarterback Aidan Warner, a preferred walk-on and Yale transfer, the Florida Gators couldn’t summon enough resolve in a 34-20 loss to Georgia on Saturday at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

Warner replaced starter D.J. Lagway, who was carted off the field with 5:01 left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury when his cleat stuck in the turf. Lagway returned to the sideline in the fourth quarter on crutches with his left leg heavily bandaged.

Florida (4-4, 2-3 SEC) dropped its seventh game in its last eight meetings with UGA and now faces an uncertain future without Lagway, a five-star freshman phenom who entered the game 2-0 as a starter.

UF tied the score 20-20 in the fourth quarter on a 15-yard TD by running back Ja’Kobi Jackson with 7:29 remaining. But Georgia answered with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 10-yard TD pass from quarterback Carson Beck to receiver Dominic Lovett.

Warner threw an interception on UF’s next possession, setting up a Dwight Phillips Jr. 4-yard TD to extended the UGA lead to 34-20 with 3:03 left.

Beck finished 25-of-40 passing for 309 yards for Georgia with two TDs and three interceptions. Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, who transferred from UF to UGA during the offseason, finished with 31 yards on seven carries before leaving in the first half with a rib injury.

Here are three takeaways from the Florida loss:

Florida football can’t overcome another devastating QB injury

When Lagway left, Florida had a 10-3 lead. With Warner at quarterback, the Gators scored 10 points thereafter. Warner finished 7-of-22 passing for 66 yards and interception.

Lagway wasn’t Florida’s only injury. Both cornerbacks — Devin Moore (knee) and Dijon Johnson — suffered game-ending injuries. UF was down to playing converted safety Trikweze Bridges and Cormani McClain at cornerback in the second half.

Takeaways spark Florida football in the first half

Florida football generated 10 points off two turnovers in the first half, taking a 13-6 lead. Cornerback Devin Moore recorded the first interception, returning it 32 yards to Georgia’s 43. On the next play, Lagway connected with Aidan Mizell for a 44-yard TD pass and 7-3 lead.

Defensive back Aaron Gates’ 30-yard interception return later in the second quarter set up a 32-yard Trey Smack field goal that extended UF’s lead to 10-3.

Florida forced a third interception in the third quarter when linebacker Grayson Howard hit Beck as he released the ball and defensive end Jack Pyburn snatched up the helicoptered throw. But the Gators were unable to generate points off it, despite taking over at Georgia’s 41.

Special-teams mistake proves costly for Florida football

With the score tied at 13, Florida kicker Trey Smack was lined up for a 51-yard goal attempt with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter that could have given UF the lead. But Smack, who connected on a 53-yard field goal attempt near the end of the first half, never got a chance to make the kicker.

Long snapper Rocco Underwood delivered a low snap that holder Jeremy Crawshaw failed to hold and the fumble rolled 31 yards into Florida territory. Jalon Walker recovered it for Georgia at the UF 36. Two plays later, Beck connected with Cash Jones on a 22-yard TD, giving Georgia a 20-13 lead with 1:27 left in the third quarter

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1

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