Florida ends 5-game skid vs. FSU, which won't appear in a bowl for the 1st time since 1982

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Florida coach breaks up potential fight during postgame interview

Florida coach Dan Mullen breaks up a potential fight between players after the Gators attempted to plant a flag at midfield.

Nov 24, 2018, 10:04 pm

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Feleipe Franks threw three touchdown passes and No. 13 Florida used a punishing ground attack to end a five-game losing streak to Florida State, defeating the Seminoles 41-14 on Saturday.

Lamical Perine had a 74-yard touchdown run as Florida rushed for 278 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Perine ran for 129 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per carry.

The Gators (9-3) halted Florida State's bowl streak, which began in 1982, and handed the Seminoles their first losing season since 1976, which was Bobby Bowden's first season as head coach.

The Seminoles' 2006 Emerald Bowl appearance against USC was vacated.

A dominant performance -- Florida racked up 536 yards on offense -- helped reinforce the argument that the Gators are deserving of an at-large spot in a New Year's Six bowl game.

Florida coach Dan Mullen wouldn't let the celebration go too far, though. He interrupted his postgame interview with ABC to stop his players from planting a Florida flag at midfield, on the Seminoles logo.

The possible flag-planting led to a confrontation between players from both teams, which Mullen also helped to defuse.

Franks, who grew up just 20 miles south of Doak Campbell Stadium in Crawfordville, completed 16 of 26 passes for 254 yards. He threw touchdown passes to Van Jefferson, Trevon Grimes and Josh Hammond. Grimes led the Gators with five receptions for 118 yards.

Deondre Francois completed 14 of 29 passes for 154 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to Cam Akers, and had a 4-yard touchdown run. Francois also threw two interceptions and fumbled.

The Seminoles (5-7) suffered six double-digit losses and fell to Miami, Clemson and Florida in the same season for the first time since 2009.

THE TAKEAWAY

Florida: The Gators had lost four of their last five to Florida State by double digits, but this time was different. It was Florida's biggest win over Florida State since Tim Tebow was the quarterback in 2009, a 37-10 Gators win.

Florida State: The Seminoles were undone this season by mistakes and that was the case again on Saturday. Florida State committed 10 penalties and three turnovers.

UP NEXT

Florida: The Gators await the bowl announcements Dec. 2 and could be headed to a New Year's Six game.

Florida State: The Seminoles' season is over.