Quinn Ewers threw for 333 yards and five touchdowns as No. 5 Texas dominated struggling Florida with a 49-17 victory on Saturday. This win came just two days after Florida’s third-year head coach, Billy Napier, received a public statement of support from the school’s athletic director.
Ewers connected on touchdown passes to Matthew Golden and Gunnar Helm in the first quarter. Quintrevion Wisner added a 50-yard touchdown on a screen pass, and then Ewers connected with Golden again for a 32-yard score in the second quarter.
Texas (8-1, 4-1 SEC, No. 5 CFP) held a commanding 35-0 lead at halftime.
Coach Steve Sarkisian had mentioned the offensive struggles of the Longhorns in recent weeks, but they found their rhythm and executed big plays against Florida.
Ewers had a stellar performance, despite a few dropped deep passes by receivers. He was replaced by Arch Manning in the third quarter after his fifth touchdown pass.
Florida (4-5, 2-4) started Aidan Warner at quarterback due to an injury to DJ Lagway. Warner, who began the season on the third team, completed 12 of 25 passes for 132 yards and two interceptions.
This loss for Florida raises questions about the decision of athletic director Scott Stricklin to publicly support Napier for another season, as their record dropped to 15-19. Despite close losses to rivals, Florida was outplayed by Texas.
Texas’ offensive line provided solid protection for Ewers, allowing him to deliver big plays. Quick reads and short passes also contributed to their success, as they aim to keep Ewers healthy and avoid aggravating his abdominal strain.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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