Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed for the tiebreaking touchdown and Bryce Thornton made two huge interceptions in the final 1:32 to help Florida post a 24-17 victory over No. 9 Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon in Southeastern Conference play in Gainesville, Fla.
Johnson rushed for 107 yards on 18 carries as the Gators (6-5, 4-4) defeated a ranked team for the second straight week. Florida beat then-No. 21 LSU last week.
The setback was painful for Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3) as the third loss figures to stomp out its College Football Playoff aspirations.
Jaxson Dart completed 24 of 42 passes for 323 yards, two touchdowns and the two costly interceptions for the Rebels. Caden Lee and Tre Harris caught scoring passes for Ole Miss.
DJ Lagway was 10-of-17 passing for 180 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Florida. Elijhah Badger and Jadan Baugh had scoring receptions, Thornton racked up 14 tackles and Caleb Banks had 2.5 sacks for the Gators.
The Gators moved 67 yards on four plays for the go-ahead score with Johnson capping the drive with a 9-yard scamper with 7:40 left in the contest.
One Rebels chance to tie blew up when Dart threw deep into triple coverage on first-and-10 from the Florida 39-yard line. Thornton easily made the pick in the end zone with 1:32 left.
Ole Miss forced a three-and-out and got another chance. Dart’s pass appeared to be picked off by Dijon Johnson with 24 seconds left but a video review showed the ball hit the ground.
Two plays later, Dart made another ill-advised throw and Thornton intercepted it at the Florida 22 with 17 seconds remaining to finish the upset.
The Gators scored on the first play of the second quarter when Lagway tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Badger. Ole Miss tied it when Harris beat double coverage to haul in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Dart with 12:01 left in the half.
The Rebels took the lead less than three minutes later when Dart connected on a 22-yard scoring pass to Lee. Florida tied the score at 14 when Baugh caught a screen pass from Lagway and navigated 25 yards down the right sideline with 6:52 remaining.
Harris went over 1,000 yards with his TD catch but was injured with just over five minutes in the half when he fell to the ground grabbing his hip and groin areas. He didn’t return.
The Gators’ Trey Smack kicked a 53-yard field goal with 10:57 left in the third period. Ole Miss tied the score at 17-all on Caden Davis’ 42-yard field goal with 45 seconds remaining in the quarter.
–Field Level Media
