When the Florida Gators win the opening coin toss Jim McElwain doesn’t blink. He’s going to take the football ten times out of ten. Sixteen times in 17 games the Florida Gators offense has failed to score at all on the opening drive, leaving the defense to take the field.
After Mark Thompson carried the ball 11-yards on first down Luke Del Rio fired three incomplete passes before a Jonny Townsend punt. Townsend’s punt was downed at the North Texas seven-yard line and the defense took the field like sharks sensing blood in the water. Joey Ivie and Alex Anzalone blew up the first rushing attempt and Caleb Brantley sacked Mason Fine one play later for a safety.