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Florida Gators send seniors out with rout of Eastern Kentucky

 
Florida Gators wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (11) scores a touchdown while being tackled by Eastern Kentucky Colonels defensive back Brandon Stanley (34) during the second quarter of the football game between Florida Gators and the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, November 22, 2014.
Florida Gators wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (11) scores a touchdown while being tackled by Eastern Kentucky Colonels defensive back Brandon Stanley (34) during the second quarter of the football game between Florida Gators and the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, November 22, 2014.
Published Nov. 23, 2014

GAINESVILLE — In a game filled with farewells and last chances, regrets and what might have been, the Florida Gators did the only thing that mattered Saturday afternoon at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

They won.

On an emotional senior day, heightened by the events of the past week, Florida ended a tumultuous home season with a 52-3 win over Eastern Kentucky (9-3) in front of an announced crowd of 83,399 at Florida Field.

"It was a great feeling," said fifth-year senior right tackle Chaz Green, a Tampa Catholic alumnus. "After everything that me and some of the seniors have gone through, that's the main thing we wanted to get accomplished was to come out here victorious. At the end of the day, it's an emotional experience, having our last game in the Swamp, but we wanted to make sure we were victorious and we definitely did that."

With the win, the Gators (6-4) became bowl eligible, easing the pressure of having to go into the final regular-season game this week at Florida State.

It was the final home game for the Gators' 22 seniors and coach Will Muschamp, who was fired Sunday. For a team that had lost six of its past eight home games, it was a much-needed end to a tough two-year home stretch.

"It was a good win," Muschamp said. "I'm happy for our seniors. For them to come out and play well, I'm really proud of our players and how they handled the week and working through all the stuff."

It was a game that allowed young players with promise to shine, and veterans who had struggled to redeem themselves.

There was quarterback Jeff Driskel, who was benched four games ago after struggling so badly that the Gators turned to freshman Treon Harris. On Saturday, he was 9-of-11 for 164 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for a 1-yard touchdown while playing extensively in the second half.

"We wanted to send the seniors out right and Coach Muschamp out of the Swamp the right way," said Driskel, a junior. "That was a big win for this team, for this year."

There was senior Quinton Dunbar, also benched earlier in the season, who had three receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns. And senior receiver Mike McNeely, the Clearwater native and former walk-on who had a 28-yard touchdown pass from Driskel to give the Gators a 52-3 lead with 6:18 remaining in the game.

Sophomore Demarcus Robinson had four receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns, and Harris was 4-of-12 for 162 yards and two touchdowns before he sustained a knee bruise and sat out most of the second half.

Muschamp said it was a glimpse of a bright future.

"I think we've got some very good players in the program," he said.

When the game was over, the Gators gathered in an emotional locker room and paid tribute to the beleaguered coach whom they stood by and defended all week.

"It was very emotional" in the locker room, defensive tackle Jon Bullard said. "We wanted to have a winning atmosphere and we did. We hollered 'Champ' the whole time, just to show him respect for everything. We've been through some hard times, but he never gave up on us and we respect him for that.

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"It was just like a chant: 'Champ, Champ, Champ.' "

Contact Antonya English at aenglish@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Gators.