Florida at Mississippi State play-by-play coverage

Follow along with the Florida at Mississippi State game.

Gator Country Photo by David Bowie.

First Quarter:

The Gators converted their first down in the first quarter of the season. The Gators are the throwing the football laterally and Aiden Mizell is seeing some action early in this game.

The Gators march down the field and score on their second drive of the game, thanks to Graham Mertz getting a three-yard passing touchdown to Arlis Boardingham.

The Gators fail to stop the run and Mississippi State score a touchdown thanks to Davon Booth.

At this point, Graham Mertz has had a strong start with just one incompletion in his eight attempts.

Second Quarter:

On DJ Lagway's first drive of the game, Montrell Johnson Jr. fumbles the football and Mississippi State safety Isaac Smith recovers the ball. Thankfully nothing happened and the Bulldogs had to punt.

Thanks to a bad punt, the Gators had great field position. A great passing attack leads to a 20-yard passing touchdown from Graham Mertz to Marcus Burke.

Great defense on 3rd & 5 leads to another Mississippi State punt. In two plays, the Gators take a 14-point lead on a 35-yard passing touchdown from Graham Mertz to Hayden Hansen.

Mississippi State are hurting themselves with multiple penalties, while the Gators are still struggling to stop the Bulldogs rushing attack. Which leads to a punt by the Bulldogs.

Towards the end of the second quarter. Multiple big passing plays by DJ Lagway leads to a ten-yard rushing touchdown by Ja'Kobi Jackson. The Gators are up by 21 in Starkville.

Mississippi State responds with a six-play 75-yard scoring drive in just 54 seconds. Blake Shapen finishes the drive a three-yard rushing touchdown.

HALFTIME:

Graham Mertz has looked real good against the Mississippi State defense, going 15 for 16 for 147 yards and three passing touchdowns. Three Gators have 20 or more rushing yards (Johnson with 42, Mertz with 23, Webb with 21).

Third Quarter:

Florida starts the quarter with a punt, then Mississippi State marches down the field and scores a touchdown to cut the lead down to 7. Jordan Mosley gets a crazy catch over a DB and mocks him with the gator chomp. Florida leads 28-21. Shapen has had a better second half.

Aiden Mizell had a touchdown, but it was called for an illegal blindside block by Montrell Johnson Jr. Later on, Mertz ended up rushing it into the endzone himself, giving the Gators a 14-point lead. State has multiple good rushing plays, which has put them in the redzone. The Gators had the stop on fourth down but are called for defensive pass interference.

Fourth Quarter:

After getting to another fourth down situation, Shapen ran the ball and loss six yards and fumbled the ball. Recovered by Grayson Howard. Gators take over at the 7.

A few solid runs by Jadan Baugh and good throws by DJ Lagway setups the Gators for another touchdown. Lagway fumbled but Austin Barber recovered the fumble for the touchdown. 42-21 Gators.

Michael Van Buren Jr. comes in for the Bulldogs, who helps lead Mississippi State down the field for Johnnie Daniels to finish the job. Florida now leads 42-28 with four and a half minutes remaining in this one.