Photo Credit: ESPN
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Florida opened SEC play with a statement win Saturday night. The Gators defeated Auburn 34-24 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Florida improved to 3-0 under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. Auburn dropped to 2-1 under first-year coach Alex Golesh. The Gators controlled the game with a balanced offensive attack. Florida finished with 410 total yards. That included 167 rushing yards and 243 passing yards. Auburn managed only 217 total yards. Florida also won the turnover battle. The Gators intercepted Byrum Brown once. Aaron Philo also threw one interception for Florida. However, Florida created more consistent offensive production throughout the night.
Florida Takes Control Early
Jadan Baugh gave Florida an early advantage. He scored on a two-yard touchdown run during the opening quarter. Auburn answered with a 40-yard field goal from Alex McPherson. Florida still carried a 7-3 advantage into the second quarter. The Gators then extended their lead with another rushing touchdown. Duke Clark broke loose for a 20-yard touchdown run. That pushed Florida’s advantage to 14-3. Auburn refused to let the game get away. Jeremiah Cobb scored on a two-yard touchdown run. That cut Florida’s led to 14-10. Patrick Durkin then added a 26-yard field goal for Florida. Auburn responded again before halftime. KeAndre Singleton caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Brown. That tied the game at 17-17. Durkin eventually gave Florida the lead again. His 28-yard field goal came with only 11 seconds remaining. Florida entered halftime ahead 20-17.
Gators Break Away After Halftime
Florida came out aggressively after halftime. Baugh delivered another huge play with a 33-yard touchdown run. His second touchdown of the night pushed Florida’s led to 27-17. Auburn answered with a touchdown of its own. DeShawn Spencer caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brown. That brought the Tigers within 27-24. However, Florida responded immediately. Dallas Wilson caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Philo. The score restored Florida’s 10-point advantage at 34-24. That touchdown proved crucial. Neither team scored during the fourth quarter. Florida used its rushing attack to control the clock and protect the lead. The Gators eventually closed out their first SEC victory of the season.
Baugh Leads the Way
Baugh delivered another impressive performance for Florida. He carried the ball 19 times for 97 yards. He also scored two touchdowns. His 33-yard touchdown run became one of Florida’s biggest plays. Duke Clark also contributed significantly. He rushed six times for 42 yards and scored once. Philo added 22 rushing yards on nine carries. Philo finished 14-of-21 passing for 195 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception. He also completed a 48-yard pass to Kahleil Jackson. Dallas Wilson also made his presence felt. His 20-yard touchdown reception helped Florida answer Auburn’s third-quarter score.
Brown’s Return Falls Short
Brown entered the game with plenty of history against Florida. Last season, Brown helped South Florida stun the Gators in Gainesville. He passed for 263 yards and one touchdown in that 18-16 victory. Brown also rushed for 66 yards This time, Brown struggled to produce the same result. He completed 11 of 23 passes for 156 yards. He threw two touchdowns and one interception. Brown also rushed for 27 yards on 10 carries. Jeremiah Cobb led Auburn’s rushing attack. He finished with 29 yards and one touchdown on eight carries.
A Major Win for Sumrall
Florida entered the night after dominant victories over Florida Atlantic and Campbell. The Gators had scored 118 points across those two games. However, Auburn presented Florida’s first major test of the season. Florida answered that challenge with a complete performance. The victory also continued the Gators’ recent success in the series. Florida won the previous meeting 24-13 in 2019. Auburn still leads the all-time series, according to Florida’s official game information. Most importantly, Florida leaves Jordan-Hare with a 3-0 record. The Gators now return home for another major SEC matchup. Florida hosts Ole Miss next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. For Sumrall and Florida, the Auburn victory provides an early benchmark. The Gators showed they can handle a hostile SEC environment. They also showed they can respond when an opponent fights back. The season remains young, but Florida now has a conference win to build around.
This is a big win for the Florida Gators as they get ready to host the Ole Miss Rebels.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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[…] a 19-7 victory in Columbia in 2013. The Gators also won a memorable 2014 matchup in Gainesville. Florida rallied from a late deficit and won 42-13. Missouri later claimed several victories during the […]