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No. 8 Florida barely survives in OT vs. huge underdog FAU
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A little too close for comfort for No. 8 Florida.
The sluggish Gators (10-1) survived a major upset when Treon Harris connected with Jake McGee on a 13-yard pass play in overtime, enabling the Gators to turn back Florida Atlantic 20-14 on Saturday.
Florida came into the game as a 31-point favorite but struggled offensively, gaining 252 yards. None were bigger than the 25 yards in three plays during OT against the Owls (2-9).
Harris hit McGee with a short pass and the tight end side-stepped two defenders to complete the scoring play. Austin Hardin's extra point attempt was blocked by Nick Internicola.
Florida Atlantic gained 16 yards in its first three plays for a first-and-goal at the 9. But FAU quarterback Jaquez Johnson was sacked for a 3-yard loss and then threw three incompletions in the end zone.
The last pass went off the fingers of receiver Jenson Stoshak, a pass that nearly brought the visitors within an extra point of an upset of the SEC East champions Gators, who are No. 8 in the CFP.
The win enabled Florida coach Jim McElwain to become the first UF coach to win 10 games in his first season with the school, passing former coaches Steve Spurrier, Urban Meyer, Galen Hall and Ray Graves.
Florida's first touchdown was set up on a 48-yard fumble return by defensive tackle Taven Bryan to the 2-yard line. Kelvin Taylor scored on a 1-yard run two plays later.
The Gators' other score came on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Antonio Callaway.
Florida Atlantic scored its second touchdown when Harris was sacked and fumbled the ball into the end zone, where Ocie Rose recovered it for a touchdown with just over eight minutes left in the game.
