ARLINGTON, TX: Rhamondre Stevenson’s 186 rushing yards led the assault from Oklahoma, as the Sooners tore through a depleted Florida team in a 55-20 Cotton Bowl Classic Title.
Here’s how it all went down at AT&T Stadium Wednesday night.
Oklahoma won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. After a 21-yard return, the Sooners wasted no time starting their assault. Stevenson kickstarted the offense with a five-yard rush. This was followed by quarterback Spencer Rattler connecting with Charleston Rambo for 25 yards on the right sideline for his first career bowl completion. Then it was Stevenson keeping things going with back-to-back rushes, moving the sticks to midfield.
Rattler finished off the drive by dropping a dime to Marvin Mimms for 27 yards in the back left of the endzone. Then it was Florida’s turn to answer and quarterback Kyle Trask found Justin Shorter for 13 yards and a first down to get things going. However, the celebration was short-lived, as Trask’s next pass was picked off by Oklahoma defensive back Tre Norwood, who took it 45 yards the other way for the score.
With only 2:38 expired from the game clock, the Sooners led this one 14-0. On the Gators’ ensuing possession, Trask was able to get things rolling and into OU territory. However, on a second-and-five at the Sooner 32, Trask was picked off for a second time. This one at the hands of linebacker Brian Asamoah.
After a 22-yard rush from Stevenson to start the drive, Florida’s defense managed to regroup. They would hold OU to a 43-yard field goal as Gabe Brkic sailed it through the uprights.
UF’s third possession of the game started at their own 8-yard line due to an illegal blindside block. This time, Dan Mullen elected to rotate his QB’s, with Trask starting the drive and Emery Jones coming in to make his Cotton Bowl debut.
As the two rotated in and out, it looked like the perfect combo. However, after getting into the red zone, disaster struck again. On second-and-eight from the OU 10, Trask passed left to the endzone and was picked off for a third time, this one courtesy of redshirt freshman cornerback Woodi Washington. This marked the first time in Trask’s career that he has thrown three interceptions.
However, the Sooners would have a hiccup of their own as Rattler was sacked from behind by Trevon Grimes, forcing a fumble of their own. This was recovered by the Gators and would set up their first scoring drive of the game. After failing to convert on goal to go, UF settled for a 21-yard Evan McPherson field goal.
As the first quarter came to a close, Oklahoma held the 17-3 advantage.
Florida started to settle in as the second quarter got underway. The Gator D forced the first punt of the game and gave Trask a chance to get back to work with the offense. After back-to-back incomplete passes, Trask connected with Keon Zipper for completions of 10 & four yards. He then found Malik Davis for 10 yards before Emory Jones returned to the field in relief at QB.
Jones would take command under center for the rest of the drive. As the Gators moved methodically down the field, they continued to get into a rhythm and found ways to attack the OU defense. Jones led the Gators to a goal to go situation and then punched it in from one yard out for Florida’s first TD of the game. This made it 17-10 with 8:08 left in the 2nd quarter.
Two plays into the Sooners ensuing possession, Stevenson looked to pick up a first down on the ground. However, UF linebacker Mohamoud Diabate had other plans, in the form of a forced fumble, which was recovered by the Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam.
Setup 1st and 10 at the OU 29, UF threatened to tie this one up. However, after an 11-yard rush from Dameon Pierce put them at the OU 18, the drive fizzled out. The Gators settled for a 35-yard McPherson field goal to cut the deficit. With 6:05 left in the first half, OU was clinging to a 17-13 lead.
After a short lull in the Sooner’s offensive production, they were back on the attack in their ensuing possession. It took just four plays for them to get back into the endzone. It came on a crossing route, as Theo Wease lined up in the left-wing, he went about seven yards upfield, then cut right across the middle. Rattler delivered a strike and Wease took it 36 yards into the endzone for the score. Sooners were back in command, leading 24-13 with 4:08 left to play in the 1st half.
UF’s next possession was highlighted on the second play with a 26-yard rush from Davis. This was then followed by three straight Trask incompletions, forcing UF into a 58-yard field goal attempt from McPherson, which fell short by about a yard and a half. Not surprising given the junior kicker’s longest field goal was a 55-yarder against Ole Miss earlier this year.
The missed field goal setup Oklahoma at their own 40-yard line with 2:50 left to play in the half. It took OU just two plays to get into UF territory, as Rattler connected with Trejan Bridges for 20 yards. Seven plays later, Rattler would finish off the drive with a one-yard rushing TD with 16 seconds left in the half. This made it 31-13, which would be the score as the teams went into the locker room.
Halftime Stats Leaders
Individual
Passing
- UF QB Kyle Trask: 14-24 for 144 yards, 0 TD’s and 3 INT’s
- OU QB Spencer Rattler: 8-13 for 147 yards and 2 TD’s
Rushing
- UF QB Emory Jones: 5 carries for 31 yards and 1 TD
- OU RB Rhamondre Stevenson: 11 carries for 97 yards
Receiving
- UF WR Keon Zipperer: 4 receptions for 38 yards
- OU WR Trejan Bridges: 2 receptions for 19 yards
Sacks
- UF’s Khris Bogle & Llyod Summerall: 1 sack each
- OU’s Nik Bonitto: 1 sack
Tackles
- UF’s Khris Bogle &Amari Burney: 4 tackles each
- OU’s Woodi Washington & Delarrin Turner-Yell: 4 tackles each
2nd Half
Florida opened the second half with possession at their 25 as Trask rolled to his right and threw a strike to Rick Wells for 12 yards and a first down. This wasn’t to be celebrated though, because three plays later, the Gators were forced to punt. Jacob Finn ripped a beautiful 59-yard punt that pinned Oklahoma at the seven-yard line.
The Sooners opening possession was much of the same. After picking up a quick first down, things fizzled out, and they were also forced to punt.
Emory Jones came in at QB this time for the Gators, and it was more of the same, with the drive ending in a punt after an opening drive first down.
Oklahoma would strike first in the 2nd half after Seth McGown broke free on a 73-yard rush to set up a 1st and goal. The Sooners would have to settle for a 20-yard Brkic field goal, making it 34-13 with 7:51 left in the 3rd.
After another stale drive by the Gators, Oklahoma got back to work. Stevenson started the drive off with a 50-yard rush. Four plays later, he finished off the drive with a 15-yard TD run to make it 41-13 with only 3:58 left to play in the 3rd.
Florida’s ensuing possession was a methodical one, with Jones leading the Chomp downfield little by little, all the way to a goal to go situation. This was all for nothing as they would turn the ball over on downs after a failed fourth-down conversion from the three-yard line. This came after their drive ate 4:41 off the clock.
For Oklahoma, this meant 1st and ten from their three-yard line. Rattler flipped the field on the third play of the drive with a 47-yard strike to Seth McGowan to push into UF territory. Rattler capped the eight-play 97-yard drive with a 20-yard TD pass to Rambo, extending the Sooners lead to 35.
Florida’s fight was at an end, as their offense was swiftly escorted to the sideline after yet another three and out.
Oklahoma looked to be trying to run the clock out on the next possession. However, the Florida defense’s lackluster tackling led to a 46-yard sideline scamper from Marcus Major into the endzone. This made it 55-13 with 6:11 left to play.
Florida would call freshman Anthony Richardson to duty under center for their final drive of the game. He would cap off the drive with the lone passing TD of the game for the Gators, on a 27-yard strike to Jordan Pouncey with 3:18 left to play.
Oklahoma would then run the clock out to end this one, with a 55-20 final, as they captured the 85th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic title.
Final Stats
Individual
Passing
- UF QB Kyle Trask: 16-28 for 158 yards, 0 TD’s and 3 INT’s
- OU QB Spencer Rattler: 14-23 for 247 yards and 3 TD’s
Rushing
- UF QB Emory Jones: 10 carries for 60 yards and 1 TD
- OU RB Rhamondre Stevenson: 18 carries for 186 yards
Receiving
- UF WR Rick Wells: 6 receptions for 43 yards
- OU WR Seth McGowan: 3 receptions for 70 yards
Sacks
- UF’s Khris Bogle & Llyod Summerall: 1 sack each
- OU’s Nik Bonitto: 1 sack
Tackles
- UF’s Khris Bogle &Amari Burney: 4 tackles each
- OU’s Woodi Washington & Delarrin Turner-Yell: 4 tackles each
