Florida versus Georgia: The Monumental Game

By: Lauren Correia

Photo courtesy of Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union

Seas of Gator blue and Bulldog red consumed the streets of Jacksonville two Saturdays ago with fans flocking to the Everbank Stadium from every direction. The University of Florida and the University of Georgia have played 103 times, and almost every game the Gators and the Bulldogs have faced off in the neutral grounds of Jacksonville, making it one of the few college rivalries that play on a neutral site. The magnitude of this rivalry has remained strong for over  100 years.

Betting insights predicted the Bulldogs to have an 87.5% chance to win, but regardless, the unranked Gators were ready to take on No. 2 Georgia in the rivalry game. Despite most  professional predictions rooting for Georgia, Gator fans — both in person and watching from their TV — never wavered in their support. 

Defense started strong in the first quarter, only allowing for Georgia to score one field goal. Within the first three minutes of the second quarter, freshman quarterback DJ Lagway made a 45 yard pass to freshman wide receiver Aidan Mizell, scoring the first touchdown of the game. The stadium was buzzing with joy from Gator fans.

Photo courtesy of Bob Self/Florida Times-Union

By the end of the second quarter the Gators were up 13-6. Gator fans cried out in joy, amazed by the team’s lead. The unthinkable was happening. The first half of the game was glorious… until it wasn’t. 

Lagway injured his hamstring at the end of the second quarter, removing him from such a momentous game. Worried for the star quarterback’s health, Gator fans were scared moving into halftime and the high stakes second half of the game.

Aidan Warner, a walk-on transfer from Yale, was subbed in for Lagway. Having limited game experience with this team and being put in at such a critical moment for the Gators as a team leader, Warner was under a lot of pressure. 

By the end of the third quarter, the Gators were down by six. With victory in such a close grasp, the Gators just couldn’t recover. With two more touchdowns from the Bulldogs and one final touchdown run from the Gators, Georgia ultimately won with a score of 34-20.

Despite losing the game, Gator fans didn’t lose their support or pride in the team. The Gators may not have ultimately won the rivalry game, but the team still managed to perform better than the predictions as the Bulldogs were favored to win by 14.5. 

Photo courtesy of Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun

“I’m proud of them,” Gator fan Doug Correia said, “They covered the spread.” 

Being a Gator isn’t just for students of the University of Florida. Fans all across the stadium, in Gainesville, and the rest of the country came together to support one thing: the Gators. Until next year, Florida-Georgia.