Gators Could be Without Playmaker Versus Georgia

The 11th ranked Florida Gators (6-1, 4-1 SEC) have the opportunity to all but wrap up the SEC East on Saturday versus hated rival Georgia (5-2, 3-2 SEC). While the Gators welcome back tight end C’yontai Lewis who’s missed the last five games due to a hand injury, Florida could be without freshman wide receiver Antonio Callaway. According to head coach Jim McElwain, Callaway suffered a foot injury in Wednesday’s practice and is questionable for Saturday. https://twitter.com/RobbieAndreu/status/659486333749088256 Callaway is second on the team in receiving yards with just over 300 on the season and tied for second with two touchdown receptions. While the Gators would certainly miss having Callaway running routes, he would especially be missed on special teams where he averages just shy of 15 yards per punt return including his 72-yard touchdown return against LSU. But, as McElwain has stated multiple times throughout the season, “you can’t worry about who’s not there” so Florida will keep the same game plan with, or without, Callaway. As far as the week of practice, McElwain feels like the team showed good energy and focus at the beginning of the week, but came out a little slow on Wednesday.

Junior running back Kelvin Taylor believes the team is extremely focused heading in to the rivalry match up. While Florida cannot clinch a berth in the SEC title game with a win over Georgia this Saturday, the Gators would be in the drivers seat with the opportunity to send themselves to Atlanta with a homecoming victory over Vanderbilt next weekend. A Georgia win gives the Bulldogs control of their own destiny as they would then have to beat Kentucky and Auburn in order to represent the East. Offensive lineman David Sharpe, a Jacksonville native, knows the importance of this game from the rivalry standpoint, but also knows the implications this game has on Eastern standings. While some may think that the phrase “throw out the records and stats” is overused, or cliché, when discussing a rivalry match up like Florida-Georgia, this series has proven that to be the case. In the past 13 meetings, this game has been decided by one possession or less nine times. In fact, since 2010 Florida has averaged 24.2 points per game with Georgia averaging 23. If history is any indication, the Gators should feel good about this Saturday. Florida and Georgia have played four times on Halloween (2009, 1998, 1992, and 1931). Florida holds a 3-1 record in those games with the lone loss coming back in 1931. Another chapter in this storied rivalry will be written starting at 3:30 on Saturday from Everbank Field in Jacksonville.