Gators Were Not Perfect, But They Left With Much-Needed Win

STARKVILLE, Miss. — It’s not as if an adoring crowd awaited them or a parade was held when they returned home early Saturday evening.

Far from it. When the Gators touched down from their 45-28 win over Mississippi State, their customary police escort took them back to campus from the airport. Florida’s first victory over an FBS opponent since last season at South Carolina snapped a seven-game losing streak to Power Four opponents.

Still, what happened at Davis Wade Stadium on a hot afternoon in Dixie allowed the Gators (2-2, 1-1) to exhale after a week of intense scrutiny. Florida scored first, led at the half, and maintained the lead throughout the second half on the way to racking up 503 yards of total offense behind veteran quarterback Graham Mertz and backup DJ Lagway.

A sun-baked Billy Napier said it felt good to win but understands what’s ahead on the schedule.

“We won today, but we are very much a work in progress,” Napier said. “And this group can get so much better. I mean, we got so many individual players, position groups and units on our team that we’re not even close to being who we can be — and they know that. That’s what I told them in the locker room.

“I think we saw flashes of it today, but we have to become a more consistent team, and I think that’s going to be the emphasis here in the open date.”

There was good and bad against the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1) in a game that kicked off at 11 a.m. CT. The Gators spent Friday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala., then made the 70-mile trip to Starkville for the early kickoff.

Let’s start with the good. Mertz finished 19 of 21 for 201 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored on a 1-yard run. Meanwhile, Lagway spelled Mertz as part of Napier’s two-quarterback system and finished 7 of 7 for 76 yards, and a wide array of playmakers benefited from the strong quarterback play.

Receiver Marcus Burke caught his first career touchdown pass, and tight ends Arlis Boardingham and Hayden Hansen each had touchdown receptions in the first half to help the Gators take a 14-point lead into the break. Running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. (68 yards), Treyaun Webb (41), Jadan Baugh (53) and Ja’Kobi Jackson (18) each got involved, with Jackson scoring on a 10-yard late in the second quarter that put the Gators up 28-7.

Mertz was sharp from the start, connecting…