Florida Gators Lose a Heartbreaker to Missouri Tigers 33-31 on Game-Winning Field Goal

The Florida Gators lost to the ninth-ranked Missouri Tigers 33-31 after Missouri kicker Harrison Mevis made the go-ahead field goal with eight seconds remaining. 

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Gators, as they simply never quit against the Tigers, despite losing their starting quarterback late in the third quarter. 

Here are my takeaways from Florida’s loss to the Tigers. 

Florida QB Graham Mertz Left Everything He Had on the Field for the Gators This Season 

Before I get into the game, I want to give props to Florida QB Graham Mertz for his effort this season. Late in the third quarter against the Tigers, on a third down the Gators needed to convert, Mertz scrambled, plowed through two defenders, and got the first down before being hit by two more defenders. 

The play epitomizes what Mertz has meant to the Gators, but unfortunately, it came at a price. 

After the next play, the adrenaline of the run went away, and Mertz went down to the turf and was in a lot of pain, grasping at his left shoulder, which took the brunt of the impact from the two Missouri defenders he ran through and then the two who tackled him. 

In his postgame press conference, Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier confirmed that Mertz suffered “a non-displaced fracture of the collarbone.” Napier didn’t expand upon a possible return timetable for Mertz but said that it may not have to require surgery. More information about Mertz’s injury will become available in Napier’s press conference on Monday. 

Napier commented on the play and what Mertz has meant to the Gators this season in his postgame press conference. 

“First of all, what a play. What a competitor. If Gator Nation doesn’t respect Graham Mertz after watching him compete this year, then we’ve got a problem.” 

Mertz has been hit so many times this season and has somehow found ways to pick himself back up. Mertz left everything on the field for the Gators this season and exceeded everyone’s expectations while doing so. It’s a shame his season may end like this.

The Gators Never Quit, Despite Losing Their Starting Quarterback

The loss to Missouri was a tough pill to swallow for the Gators, but the Gators never quit. Despite losing their starting quarterback late in the third quarter, this team fought until the very end of the game. 

It would have been easy for the Gators’ defense to play defeated football after allowing a program-record 701 yards of offense to the LSU Tigers a week ago. But they didn’t. It would have been easy for Florida’s offense to give up after losing their starting quarterback, but they didn’t.

The Gators have played more freshmen than any other team in the FBS this season on a week-to-week basis. This team is young and for them to fight as hard as they did against Missouri says a lot about the direction of the program moving forward. 

Florida’s Defense Goes Full Jekyll and Hyde Against the Tigers 

Florida’s defense, overall, played well enough for the Gators to have a chance at upsetting Missouri. However, they gave up some explosive plays that they want to have back, such as the 27-yard completion from Missouri QB Brady Cook to WR Luther Burden III on the game-winning drive.

Napier discussed what happened on that 4th and 18 conversion by Missouri in his postgame press conference. 

“We’ve got multiple players in the area and we’ve got four rushing and he found the soft spot in the zone there. Those are things, we’ll look back at a number of plays in this game and we’ll say, we could have done a little bit better.” 

Explosive plays allowed aside, the red zone effort from the Gators defense and getting Missouri’s offense off the field was what allowed them to stay within striking distance of a potential upset throughout the game. The Gators forced Missouri to kick three field goals prior to the game-winning kick and forced four punts, including back-to-back punts in the first quarter. 

The defense has been the epitome of Jekyll and Hyde this season, but they were especially so against Missouri. The Gators defense has played well at times this season and they’ve played very bad at times this season. Unfortunately against Mizzou, it was a bad concoction of both. 

Florida Backup QB Max Brown Replaced Mertz and Made Plays with His Legs 

After Mertz went down with his shoulder injury, Florida backup QB Max Brown came into the game and gave Missouri’s defense problems with his legs. 

Brown had an incredible 27-yard rush that eventually led to the Trey Smack field goal with 1:36 remaining in the game that put Florida up 31-30. 

Napier commented on Brown’s performance in his postage press conference. 

“Max settled in there a little bit and made a few plays. Obviously, he’s a good athlete and we were able to use his legs a little bit in the read game. He made some throws, as well.” 

Brown did make one crucial mistake, though, mishandling a handoff to RB Trevor Etienne that resulted in a lost fumble that quickly turned into a 77-yard TD by Missouri WR Theo Wease Jr. a few plays later. Aside from that, Brown looked relatively unfazed by the Mizzou crowd and the circumstances in which he was placed into the game.

My Final Thoughts and What’s Next for the Gators 

Florida’s defense played better than I expected them to after last week’s historically bad performance against LSU, but they gave up plays that simply cannot be allowed.

That said, this team fights like hell for each other. Florida just needs to find a way to get on the winning side of these types of games. This loss to Missouri and the loss at home to Arkansas are two games the Gators are going to want to have back come season’s end. 

Next week, the Gators welcome the undefeated Florida State Seminoles to The Swamp to end the season as they make one last push for a bowl berth. 

Unfortunately for both teams, they will be without their starting quarterbacks. Mertz is likely out for Florida and the Seminoles lost their starting QB Jordan Travis for the season to a devastating and gruesome ankle injury in the first quarter against North Alabama. 

I’ll preview the FSU matchup more thoroughly later this week, but with the game being set for a 7 PM kickoff, The Swamp is going to be lively, especially against the Seminoles. And a lively Swamp means anything can happen.