GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jadan Baugh ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns, Duke Clark added 126 yards and a score on the ground, and No. 21 Florida manhandled fourth-ranked Mississippi 52-28 on Saturday to reach 4-0 for the first time since 2019.
asserted
Florida → run → 2019
The Gators (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference), installed as 3 1/2-point favorites, proved Las Vegas oddsmakers right by leading from start to finish.
asserted
oddsmakers → instal → finish
They scored touchdowns on five consecutive drives in the second half.
asserted
They → score → half
The Rebels (3-1, 1-1) insisted that last week’s victory against LSU, the one that spoiled former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s return, was not their “Super Bowl.”
asserted
that → insist → return
But they failed to build off that emotional win.
asserted
they → fail → win
Florida had a lot to do with it.
asserted
Florida → have → it
The Gators jumped on the Rebels early, leading 10-0 before Heisman Trophy front-runner Trinidad Chambliss even threw a pass, and set the pace the rest of the afternoon.
asserted
Chambliss → jump → afternoon
Florida was unstoppable running the ball.
asserted
Florida → run → ball
Baugh became the third player in school history to top 100 yards rushing in five consecutive games, joining Emmitt Smith (1987, ’88) and Fred Taylor (1997).
asserted
Baugh → become → Smith
Baugh was elusive between the tackles, and Clark allowed the Rebels no break when he subbed into the game.
asserted
he → allow → game
Florida finished with 302 yards rushing and six TDs on the ground.
asserted
Florida → finish → ground
He juked cornerback Antonio Kite and former Florida safety Sharif Denson on his way to the end zone.
asserted
He → juke → zone
Chambliss and Ole Miss scored 11 points in a 3-minute stretch spanning the second and third quarters and seemed to have all the momentum although Florida still led 17-14.
asserted
Florida → score → momentum
But London Montgomery returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards to set up Clark’s scamper.
asserted
Montgomery → return → scamper
Ole Miss seemed out of sorts from the start.
asserted
Miss → seem → start
Trailing 7-0, Chambliss handed off four consecutive times to backup running back JT Lindsey.
asserted
Chambliss → trail → Lindsey
Lindsey failed to move the chains on a fourth-and-1 play, giving the Gators great field position.
asserted
Lindsey → fail → position
Chambliss injured his left thigh on the team’s second series.
asserted
Chambliss → injure → series
He returned and used the exercise bike between drives.
asserted
He → return → drives
He ended up throwing for 298 yards, with a touchdown and an interception late.
asserted
He → end → touchdown
He also ran seven times for 44 yards and two scores.
asserted
He → run → yards
The Rebels missed star running back Kewan Lacy.
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Rebels → miss → Lacy
He ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns against Florida last year in Oxford but missed this game with a shoulder injury.
asserted
He → run → injury
Lindsey started in his place and finished with 31 yards on 11 carries.
asserted
Lindsey → start → carries
Coach Jon Sumrall spent the last nine months calling his team a “sleeping giant” and insisting it was time to “wake the beast.”
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it → spend → beast
A road victory last week at Auburn was huge, but beating a top five team might be the turning point.
uncertain
beating → beat → team
The Gators had dropped 12 in a row against the top five.
asserted
Gators → drop → five
Up next
Mississippi gets a week off before playing at Vanderbilt on Oct. 10.
asserted
Mississippi → get → Oct.
Florida plays at No. 19 Missouri next Saturday.
asserted
Florida → play → Missouri
The Aporia
