![Florida Gators safety Corey Collier Jr. (20) tackles Missouri Tigers running back Cody Schrader (20) in the first half at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 8, 2022. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]
Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Missouri Tigers](https://sportsnaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/19198073.jpg?w=788&h=444&crop=1)
Jaydon Hill intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown as Florida defeated Missouri 24-17 Saturday in a Southeastern Conference clash in Gainesville, Fla.
Montrel Johnson Jr. rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown and Trevor Etienne added 83 yards on the ground for the Gators (4-2, 1-2 SEC).
Nathaniel Peat rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown for Missouri (2-4, 0-3). Brady Cook completed 22 of 30 passes for 220 yards, but he threw the two key interceptions.
The Tigers outgained the Gators 195-65 during the first half and built an 11-3 edge in first downs. But Florida got its ground game rolling in the second half to take control.
Florida took a 3-0 lead after Xzavier Henderson’s 48-yard punt return set up Adam Mihalek’s 37-yard field goal with just shy of three minutes left in the first quarter.
Hill’s interception and subsequent touchdown with a 1:01 left in the quarter pushed the Gators’ lead to 10-0. He stepped in front of Cook’s pass at the Missouri 49 and had clear sailing to the end zone.
Missouri cut its deficit to 10-7 with an 11-play, 67-yard touchdown drive capped by Cody Schrader’s 5-yard touchdown run with 3:55 left in the half.
After Missouri recovered an Anthony Richardson fumble, the Tigers tied the game 10-10 with Harrison Mevis’ 28-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the half.
Florida got a 41-yard run from Johnson on its second play of the second half, but Mihalek missed a 47-yard field goal try.
Runs of 39 yards by Etienne and 32 yards by Richardson set up Johnson’s 3-yard touchdown as the Gators moved ahead 17-10.
Missouri marched back down the field, but Hill intercepted Cook again — this time at the Florida 4-yard line — late in the third quarter.
Johnson’s 36-yard run got the Gators rolling toward another score, which came on Richardson’s 9-yard TD pass to Ricky Pearsall for a 24-10 lead with 11:10 remaining in the game.
The Tigers responded with a 75-yard drive, capped by Peat’s 18-yard TD run to cut the lead to 24-17.
Missouri got a final chance to come back when Daylan Carnell intercepted Richardson with 2:57 left at the Tigers’ 32-yard-line, but the Tigers failed to capitalize.
–Field Level Media