October 5, 1996, Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Attendance: 52,318
Danny Wuerffel throws for a school-record 462 yards and the Florida defense dominates the second half as the top-ranked Gators defeat Arkansas 42-7 in the first regular-season meeting between the two schools. Florida wins its 16th straight SEC game and improves to 5-0 for the fourth year in a row.
The Gator lead is just 14-7 at the half, but the UF defense allows just three Arkansas first-downs the rest of the way and Wuerffel throws three of his four TD passes after intermission to highlight a 28-0 second-half run by the Gators.
Wuerffel completes 23-of-39 passes for his 462 yards to surpass the mark held by Eric Kresser, who threw for 458 vs. Northern Illinois in 1995. His four TD passes moves him into third place on the NCAA all-time list with 89 (trails only Ty Detmer at 121 and David Klinger at 91). Wuerffel's 462 yards, the third-400 yard passing game of his career, is also the most ever against an Arkansas team.
Wuerffel's favorite receiver is Reidel Anthony, who sets career highs in receptions (nine), yards (189) and touchdowns (three). Anthony's 189 yards receiving is the fourth-best single-game total in UF history and the second-best versus an SEC opponent.
Wuerffel and Anthony hook-up on the second play of the game for a 56-yard touchdown play as UF scores on its opening drive for the fifth straight game. The Gators add another touchdown in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Terry Jackson for an early 14-0 lead but Arkansas cuts the deficit in half on a 1-yard TD run by quarterback Pete Burks. That, combined with the Gators running only 13 plays for 44 yards in the second quarter, keeps the game close.
On the opening series of the second half safety Chris Atkins picks off a Wuerffel pass to give the Hogs the ball on the Florida 22 with a chance to tie the game. The UF defense holds and Arkansas place-kicker Todd Latourette misses a 30-yard field goal to give the ball and momentum back to the Gators. UF outgains Arkansas 242 yards to 46 in the third quarter.
Other Game Notes
- Florida's 462 yards passing as a team is the most ever vs. an SEC foe.
- Florida's 35-point margin of victory is the largest against an Arkansas team in Fayetteville since 1931.
- UF wins its 18th consecutive regular season games and is now 22-0-1 in regular-season games since mid-season of
1994.
- The Gators have now won 15 straight SEC games away from Florida Field.
- The Gators have now outscored opponents 160-20 in the first half this season and have yet to trail in a game.
- Florida is now 47-0 vs. unranked opponents under Spurrier.
- The Gator defense forces its 16th turnover of the year, leading to 73 points (42 directly and 31 indirectly).
- Wuerffel moves into sole possession of second place on UF's all-time 200-yard passing games chart with his 24th (John Reaves had 23). Wuerffel also throws for 300 yards for the 10th time in his career.
- Wuerffel becomes the first Gator QB to throw for 400 yards in a game three times.
- Matt Teague kicks off seven times, with all seven going into the endzone and four for touchbacks.
Scoring Summary & Statistics
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Florida 14 0 14 14 42
Arkansas 0 7 0 0 7
1st Quarter
UF: 10:55 - Anthony 56-yard pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston PAT) - 2 plays, 68 yards, 0:23
UF: 0:39 - T. Jackson 1-yard run (Edmiston PAT) - 6 plays, 77 yards, 1:54
