GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Booed as he left the Swamp three weeks ago, Florida coach Billy Napier got a much different send-off Saturday night.
A rousing ovation.
Graham Mertz threw a touchdown pass, Montrell Johnson ran for a score and Florida used a stout defensive effort to beat UCF 24-13 on Saturday night and give Napier consecutive wins for the first time in nearly a year.
“It’s evident that we took a step in the right direction on defense," Napier said.
After spending much of their bye week trying to find more consistency on that side of the ball, the Gators (3-2) held the Knights to 108 yards on the ground — the third-lowest rushing total during coach Gus Malzahn's four seasons — and notched five sacks.
It led to the second disappointment in two weeks for the Knights (3-2), who were coming off a 48-21 loss to Colorado.
UCF dug itself an early hole when Malzahn went for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 43 early in the second quarter. Quarterback KJ Jefferson was stopped for no gain, and the Gators took over in plus territory. Florida scored three plays later to take a double-digit lead, 14-3.
Johnson made it 21-3 with a 3-yard leap, and Trey Smack's short field goal put the Gators up 24-3 at halftime.
UCF played considerably better in the second half and had chances down the stretch, but third-down struggles ended any chance the Knights had of rallying.
Mertz completed 19 of 23 passes for 179 yards, including a 13-yarder to Elijhah Badger for a score. Highly touted freshman DJ Lagway played every third series and completed all four of his throws for 50 yards.
“Complimentary football,” Mertz said. “If we can go out there and play our best in all three phases, we can be a really good team. But we've got to do that consistently.”
Johnson ran 10 times for 54 yards.
UCF never got its ground game — which ranked first in the Big 12 and second in the nation entering the week — going. RJ Harvey ran 16 times for 75 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown in the fourth.
Jefferson, the Arkansas transfer who was trying to win in Gainesville in consecutive years, completed 12 of 22 passes for 165 yards and an interception. He ran 12 times for minus-18 yards.
“In fairness to him, he was under duress,” Malzahn said.
The outcome did little to take pressure off Napier, who improved to 14-16 in three seasons but has done little to regain the confidence of fans and maybe even his bosses. Napier was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for vehemently arguing a running-into-the-kicker penalty in the first half.
“Probably need to show a little more poise and composure there, but I was here to compete tonight, too," Napier said.
MISSING KNIGHTS
UCF receiver Xavier Townsend and four teammates are redshirting and planning to enter the transfer portal. The school confirmed their decisions before the game. Defensive end Kaven Call, right tackle Wes Dorsey and safeties Bryon Threats and William Wells joined Townsend in choosing to opt out after UCF’s first four games.
“It's still a determined locker room,” receiver Trent Whittemore said. “A lot can be said about the locker room and this and that, but you've just got to put the result on the field.”
Under NCAA rules, players can play up to four regular-season games without counting toward their four years of eligibility. So all five players can officially enter the transfer portal on Dec. 9 and land elsewhere. They won’t be eligible until 2025.
KEY INJURIES
UCF kicker Colton Boomer didn’t make the trip north because of an undisclosed injury, leaving Grant Reddick to fill in. Reddick made his only field-goal attempt.
Florida played without receivers Tre Wilson, Aidan Mizell and Marcus Burke.
THE TAKEAWAY
UCF: The Knights consider themselves on the same level as Sunshine State counterparts Florida, Florida State and Miami. But they fell to 1-6 against those in-state foes, with the lone victory coming against the Gators in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl game that included an interim coach and several opt-outs.
Florida: The Gators played their most complete game of the season to climb above .500 for the first time in nearly 11 months. Defense was the biggest bright spot, allowing 273 yards.
UP NEXT
UCF: Hosts Cincinnati next Saturday.
Florida: Plays at No. 4 Tennessee next Saturday.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football