October 12, 1996, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, Gainesville, Fla.
Attendance: 85,567
Playing what Steve Spurrier calls one of Florida's most complete games in his seven years at UF, the top-ranked Gators defeat No. 11 LSU 56-13 in front of a homecoming record crowd of 85,567 and a CBS national television audience. UF is now off to a 6-0 start for the fifth time in school history and the second under Spurrier.
The Gators get a school-record 36 first downs on the day en route to 635 yards in total offense, the most ever for Florida versus an SEC team and the fifth best offensive total overall in UF history. The outburst is balanced with 305 yards on the ground (the most in the Spurrier era) and 327 yards through the air. For the first time in school history two players rush for over 100 yards and two players catch more than 100 yards in passes in the same game. Elijah Williams has 109 yards on 13 carries, while Fred Taylor adds 107 yards on 16 carries to mark the first time since 1984 two UF backs go over the century mark in the same game. Ike Hilliard has eight catches for 145 yards and two TDS, while Reidel Anthony has seven catches for an even 100 yards and a TD to pull off the first time feat.
Meanwhile, the Gator defense is outstanding, allowing LSU just 28 yards rushing on the day. The Tiger ground game was ranked tops in the SEC and eighth nationally with 279.5 yards a game entering the contest. The swarming, attacking defense forces two turnovers resulting in two scores, boosting UF's season turnover total to 18 turnovers leading to 87 points. UF notches eight sacks on the day and holds LSU to just 4-of-14 on third-down conversions after LSU enters the contest with a the SEC's second-best percentage at 47%. The Gators have now allowed opponents to convert just 7-of-47 third downs over the last three games (.149).
For the sixth straight game UF scores on its first possession of the game and builds an early 14-0 first-quarter lead before LSU closes the gap to 14-6. UF reels off 28 points in the second quarter to build a comfortable 42-6 halftime edge. UF gets 379 yards in total offense in the first half after LSU enters the game surrendering just 281.3 yard per game and comes after the Tigers held UF to a season-low 321 yards in the 1995 meeting.
Danny Wuerffel completes 17-of-25 passes for 277 yards with three touchdowns and throws just his third interception of the year. Wuerffel's three TDS moves him into second place on the NCAA all-time career passing chart with 92 (passing Houston's David Klinger).
Other Game Notes
- UF wins its 19th consecutive regular season games and is now 23-0-1 in regular-season games since mid-season of 1994.
- UF wins its 17th straight SEC game and its 29th conference contest in its last 31 tries.
- UF is now 22-1 vs. SEC foes at "The Swamp" since 1990 and has won eight straight league games at home.
- Florida wins for the ninth straight time vs. LSU and improves to 51-19-3 in Homecoming Games, including 24 of the last 26 and 16 of the last 17.
- Bart Edmiston establishes school record for career PATs attempted (138) and made (136).
- LSU enters the game yielding only 23 total points in the first half in its first four games and UF scores 42; points in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Florida's 635 yards in total offense is the second most LSU has ever given up to an SEC team.
- Ike Hilliard's two TD catches brings his career total to 26, third best in SEC and UF history.
Scoring Summary & Statistics
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
LSU 0 6 0 7 13
Florida 14 28 0 14 56
1st Quarter
UF: 12:58 - Anthony 13-yard pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston PAT) - 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:02
