Before No. 9 Florida can focus on SEC rival Auburn, the Gators must take care of Towson on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville, Fla.
Towson (3-1) will be Florida’s second FCS opponent in four weeks. The Gators (4-0) defeated UT Martin 45-0 on Sept. 7.
“Obviously, there’ll be a lot more hype on next week’s game (against Auburn) — national hype, it’ll be CBS’ game of the week,” Florida coach Dan Mullen said. “But for us to even have an opportunity to win that game, we have to improve this week.”
Quarterback Kyle Trask was 20 of 28 for 293 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions, in leading the Gators to last week’s 34-3 victory at Tennessee. He replaced fellow redshirt junior Feleipe Franks, who underwent surgery Monday for a season-ending dislocated/fractured right ankle suffered in a victory at Kentucky on Sept. 14.
“I think it’s a testament to both (Trask’s) skill level, his preparedness, and the coaches that they’ve taken it back up, basically plug-and-play,” Towson coach Rob Ambrose said. “The young man (Franks) getting hurt is a shame, but they didn’t miss a beat putting in their second-stringer.”
The Gators also have been without versatile receiver Kadarius Toney, who injured his shoulder against UT Martin. Mullen said he didn’t expect Toney to play against Towson.
Florida enters as a heavy favorite after averaging 33.0 points and 431.5 yards through four games. The defense has given up 11.0 points and 285.3 yards per game.
Linebackers David Reese (28 tackles), Ventrell Miller (16 tackles) and Louisville graduate transfer Jonathan Greenard (15 tackles, team-high 3 1/2 sacks) spark the defense.
“This is one of the best football teams I have ever seen on film,” said Ambrose, in his 11th season as head coach. “These guys will challenge for the College Football Playoff. They’re really, really good.”
Towson comes off a 52-45 overtime loss to visiting Villanova. The Colonial Athletic Association Tigers fell from fifth to 10th in the FCS coaches poll.
“Being a Top 10 team, they know how to win, they expect to win,” Mullen said. “You can see that in how they play.”
Senior quarterback Tom Flacco, brother of Denver Broncos QB Joe Flacco, directs a Tigers offense scoring 40 points per game. The senior has completed 57.5 percent of his passes (77 of 134) for 1,092 yards, with six touchdowns and one interception.
Flacco also leads Towson in rushing (34 carries, 227 yards), mainly because senior Shane Simpson (22-168) was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered in a 45-23 victory at Maine on Sept. 14. Last season, Simpson ranked second in FCS with 171.5 all-purpose yards per game.
The defense is led by redshirt senior linebacker Robert Heyward (34 tackles, two interceptions) and redshirt sophomore linebacker Christian Dixon (30 tackles, four for loss).
As if facing the talented Gators won’t be enough, the Tigers will need to cope with The Swamp’s huge crowd and the Florida heat.
“We don’t go anywhere to lose, ever … ever,” Ambrose said. “In the end, this will be a great test, a great experience for our kids.”
