Massachusetts Minutemen vs Florida Gators Box Score on Sep 03, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 3, 2016

Luke Del Rio threw two touchdowns in his Florida debut, and the 25th-ranked Gators relied on their defense to survive a scare from Massachusetts in a 24-7 victory Saturday on the newly named Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainseville, Fla.

Del Rio, a sophomore and the son of Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Callaway in the first quarter. He then sealed the Gators' 27th straight season-opening win by leading three four-quarter scoring drives.

Brandon Powell caught seven passes for 73 yards and turned a quick sideline hitch into a 26-yard touchdown to put Florida up 21-7 with eight minutes to play.

Freshman kicker Eddy Pineiro connected on his first three career field goals, from 49, 48 and 40 yards.

Del Rio, who was making his first career college start after spending time at Oregon State and Alabama, completed 29-of-44 passes for 256 yards and the two touchdowns. The Florida defense did the rest.

The Gators put relentless pressure on UMass quarterback Ross Comis and limited the Minutemen's rushing attack to 46 yards on 35 carries, an average of 1.3 yards per rush.

UMass scored on a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Comis' 5-yard touchdown run that tied the score, 7-7, early in the second quarter.

Florida moved the ball in the first half, gaining 193 yards, but did not maximize its scoring opportunities and failed to produce any big plays.

The Gators turned it over on downs at the UMass 5-yard line, when Mark Thompson was stuffed on fourth-and-1. They also had to settle for a Pineiro 40-yard field goal on another drive inside Minutemen territory and went into halftime leading 10-7.

Jordan Scarlett led Florida with 70 rushing yards, behind what is expected to be an improved offensive line. The Gators, who surrendered an NCAA-high 45 sacks last season, gave up only one against UMass.

Florida is expected to contend in the SEC East and was picked by the media to finish second in the division, behind Tennessee. But the Gators did look like SEC contenders for much of Saturday's game against the Minutemen. Florida, a five-touchdown favorite, led by just a field goal heading into the fourth quarter.

NOTES: The Gators went 10-4 last in season, their first under coach Jim McElwain. They lost their last two games in blowout fashion, including 41-7 to Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. ... McElwain suspended five players before Saturday's game, including projected starting CB Teez Tabor. ... An FBS independent, Massachusetts went 3-9 last season under coach Mark Whipple, but never gave in against the Gators. ... Before the game, the field was renamed in honor of former Florida coach Steve Spurrier.