Carter’s Corner: Sampling What Gators Did in Sunday’s Win

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Some games are best written about in narrative form. Florida’s 52-17 victory over Eastern Washington on Sunday afternoon was not one of them in this slice of internet real estate.

So many Gators played (81), so many yards gained (1,077), and so many would-be hurdlers denied (1), in this case Eagles kickoff returner Efton Chism III by Gators receiver Ja’Quavion Fraziars in the second quarter.

The Gators did what they had to do against the overmatched Eagles from Big Sky Country. They not only beat them, but they beat them badly. Convincingly. Definitively.

Anything less would have caused at least a few onlookers to curse like a sailor right after leaving church on Sunday morning. Thank you, Gators, for saving them from poor manners and for not embarrassing themselves in front of their neighbors at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on a splendid afternoon.

Instead of the usual, we’re going to use this space to rehash the most interesting developments from the first Sunday game the Gators have played since January 1977.

Kickoff time has arrived:

 

1. Hard to believe in retrospect, but the Gators actually trailed 3-0. That changed as soon as Anthony Richardson dropped back for his first pass of the game, a 75-yard scoring strike to Justin Shorter. Richardson’s throw on the Gators’ first play from scrimmage traveled 56 yards in the air and Shorter caught it in perfect stride.

“That’s a play we’ve carried for a couple [of] weeks now. It really looked good in practice, and the coverage variables fit this week,” UF head coach Billy Napier said. “Anthony likes it, and we had two good receivers running routes there. Good protection and certainly a good route. It’s great to see Shorter continue to perform at a high level. He’s developing nicely.”

The play showcased Richardson’s powerful right arm.

 

2. Since we’re talking about quarterbacks, Gators fans got their first glimpse of redshirt freshman Jalen Kitna in action. Kitna entered the game on Florida’s first drive of the second quarter when Richardson was tackled low on a pass to Xzavier Henderson and got up slow.

Kitna replaced Richardson for a few plays and completed a 22-yard pass to Ricky Pearsall on his first collegiate pass. Kitna handled Sunday’s assignment like a veteran, completing 8 of 12 for 152 yards and a touchdown. The best part of Kitna’s…