KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jeff Driskel threw two touchdown passes and Trey Burton rushed for a pair of scores Saturday as No. 18 Florida scored the final 24 points to beat No. 23 Tennessee 37-20 and make it eight straight wins against its SEC East rival.

The Gators were down 20-13 before coming alive in impressive fashion.

Burton, a fullback from Venice High who often takes snaps out of the Wildcat formation, raced 80 yards down the right sideline to tie the score 20-20 with 3:15 left in the third quarter. Earlier he had Florida's first score of the night on a 14-yard run out of the Wildcat.

Florida went ahead for good on Driskel's 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Reed with 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Then the Gators put things away effectively when, facing third-and-7, Driskel hit Frankie Hammond on a quick slant and Hammond raced 75 yards for a score.

Caleb Sturgis kicked three field goals for the Gators (3-0) including a 49-yarder that provided the final margin. Actually it could have been worse as Driskel looked like he had tacked on a 36-yard TD run in the late going but replay showed he had barely stepped out of bounds, and Florida took a knee the rest of the way.

Tennessee had come in with a 2-0 mark and a renewed sense of excitement in Knoxville. It carried over through much of the first part of the game but Florida fought back with a tremendous offensive effort.

The Gators compiled 556 total yards with 336 coming in the ground. Running back Mike Gillislee ran for 119 yards on 19 carries with Driskel adding 82 on the ground to go with Burton's 91.

Defensively, after Tennessee's long touchdown drive to start the second half the Vols never had a possession of more than five plays, and finished with just 118 total yards after the break.

 

All of the action aired on sister station 1250 WHNZ.