Florida Gators vs Texas A&M Aggies Box Score on Sep 08, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2012

No. 23 Florida 20, Texas A&M 17: Mike Gillislee ran for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 12-yard score in the fourth quarter, as the No. 23 Gators rallied from an early 17-7 deficit to spoil the host Aggies’ Southeastern Conference debut.

Gillislee finished with 83 yards on 14 carries before leaving with an apparent groin injury, and has four touchdowns in Florida’s 2-0 start. He helped counter a Texas A&M pass rush that racked up eight sacks.

The Aggies led 17-10 after a half in which they ran 46 plays to the Gators’ 26. Florida’s defense stiffened, forcing six straight punts after halftime.

Caleb Sturgis’ second field goal cut the deficit to 17-13 early in the third. After the Gators forced a three-and-out, sophomore Jeff Driskel guided a 62-yard touchdown drive that Gillislee capped by tightroping the sideline.

Driskel iced the win with a 21-yard run, enabling the Gators to run out the clock. In his first start, Driskel hit 13 of 16 throws for 162 yards.

Johnny Manziel – the first Aggies’ freshman to start a season opener at quarterback since 1944 – completed 23 of 30 passes for 173 yards and ran for an 11-yard touchdown. But he was mostly ineffective in the second half, when A&M gained 65 total yards.

Texas A&M star Christine Michael was held to 33 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Defensive end Damontre Moore had three sacks and Spencer Nealy two for the Aggies.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Florida leads the series 2-1. This was the first meeting since the 1977 Sun Bowl. … The Aggies opened with a conference game for the first time since 1967 after Hurricane Isaac postponed last week’s contest with Louisiana Tech … Sturgis drilled a 51-yard field goal for Florida, the sixth of 50-plus yards in his career. … Texas A&M was penalized nine times for 78 yards.