TAMPA, Fla. — DJ Lagway and the Florida Gators concluded a challenging season on a high note, wrapping up their campaign in the Gasparilla Bowl with a decisive win over Tulane. The Gators emerged victorious with a score of 33-8, despite a rocky first half from Lagway, who managed to throw for 305 yards and one touchdown.
Trey Smack set a Gasparilla Bowl record by kicking four field goals for Florida (8-5), and they also benefited from a late touchdown run by Anthony Rubio, a walk-on running back and son of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio. This victory marked the Gators’ fourth consecutive win of the season. “It’s great to finish the right way,” expressed Florida head coach Billy Napier.
Tulane (9-5), missing starting quarterback Darian Mensah, struggled offensively, gaining only 194 yards while allowing Florida 529 yards. The Green Wave did not score until the final minute of the game when quarterback Ty Thompson connected with a touchdown pass.
Freshman quarterback Lagway had an inconsistent game, completing 22 of 35 passes with two interceptions, which limited Florida to a 6-0 lead at halftime. One notable moment in the game occurred when Lagway mishandled a snap on a crucial fourth down, only to see running back KD Daniels recover and dash 25 yards into the end zone.
Making his college debut, Rubio, a redshirt freshman from Miami, entered the game in the fourth quarter and made an immediate impact. He gained eight yards on his first carry and capped a nine-play drive with a touchdown run, increasing the Gators’ lead to 33-0. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Desmond Watson, who weighs 449 pounds, contributed by running the ball for a yard on his only career attempt, creating excitement on the sidelines.
Napier mentioned how the idea to use Watson in this way emerged during practice, where originally, he was intended to serve only as a decoy or blocker. Watson, however, was thrilled when he got the chance to run the ball himself, confidently stating, “I can do it all.”
After a rocky start to the season at 3-3, the Gators rallied, winning five out of their last seven games, spurred on by the assurance from athletic director Scott Stricklin that Napier would remain head coach through 2025. Lagway took over as the starting quarterback after Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury in October.
For Tulane, the loss capped a disappointing finish to the season, as they dropped their last three games. The absence of Mensah, who opted to transfer to Duke after a successful season leading the team to the American Athletic Conference championship game, was felt heavily.
Thompson, who is also in the transfer portal after his first start with the Green Wave, completed 11 of 29 passes for 125 yards and threw three interceptions. His struggles as a passer and runner were noted, undermining his chance to secure a starting position.
The game concluded with Tulane finally avoiding a shutout, as Thompson found Mario Williams for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Looking ahead, Florida is set to kick off their next season at home against LIU, while Tulane will host Northwestern. Both teams are scheduled to begin their campaigns on August 30.