A Stunning Finish To A Homecoming Win Clouded By Napier's Future

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The tenor in the press box early Saturday night was the same as in the stands at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

As writers pounded the keyboards of their laptops – deep into another story about how the Gators lost a game they could have easily won – those left among the announced crowd of 90,203 wrestled with a dreaded flashback.

Six weeks earlier, on the same field and with the visiting team headed in the same direction – toward the north end zone – USF beat the Gators on a game-winning field goal as time expired to scorch the good vibes of the preseason. On Saturday, Mississippi State threatened to spoil Florida's homecoming in the same fashion.

And then the most improbable and stunning play of Florida's season happened.

Facing second-and-10 from Florida's 29-yard line and within field-goal range, Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapin dropped back to pass as the Gators' 349-pound defensive lineman Michai Boireau dropped into coverage. Shapin never saw him. Boireau snagged Shapin's quick pass toward the flat, rumbled for a few yards, and all the Gators had to do was run a final play and run out the clock.

They had no trouble with the victory formation, departing with a 23-21 victory that left everyone dazed for a few moments as they tried to make sense of what they had just witnessed, and for those writers in the press box, to start adding more copy to their stories.

In the euphoric aftermath, Boireau clutched the ball he intercepted as teammates, coaches and fans congratulated him during the postgame celebration. "Last time I had an interception … I had a pick in an All-Star Game [in high school],'' Boireau said. "That doesn't compare to this one. I guarantee you that."

Boireau's unlikely starring role came amidst chaos surrounding the future of Florida head coach Billy Napier. Moments earlier, after quarterback DJ Lagway was sacked on third-and-1 to force the Gators to punt and give the Bulldogs 1 minute, 38 seconds to win the game, loud chants of "Fi-re Bil-ly" echoed through The Swamp.

In what has been a tumultuous season for Napier and the Gators, the turmoil peaked in dramatic style. Afterward, 15 minutes since Napier departed the field to a less-than-friendly reception from some vocal fans, much of the focus remained on Napier's job status.

Here are some of Napier's most notable responses to pointed questions:

Q: What is your reaction to the end-of-game reception, and your thoughts about what lies ahead?

"I think I'm built for it. I'm made for it,'' Napier said. "I chose the coaching profession. I was called to coach. The good comes with the bad, the bad comes with the good. I do think the game's about the players. I'm proud of the players and the way they played. Never going to make everybody happy. You get these leadership positions, you're in charge, these are the things that come with it."

Napier paused, emotion bubbling to the surface.

"I love the game of football. I love the game,'' he said.

Q: Through the ups and downs in your four years here, what was the message to the team after a win like tonight?

"I'm proud of the players, man. I think it's very uncommon for them to do what they've done. I think that's a tribute to the relationships they have with each other, the loyalty that they have. Bunch of guys playing banged up out there. They're doing that because they care about this place. They wanted to represent a certain way today, knowing it was homecoming. The challenge was accepted. We got a win tonight."

Q: How much do you want to finish out the season with them?

"I'm going to tell you something. I'm going to enjoy this one tonight. That's what I'm going to do, okay? I'll wake up tomorrow and we'll worry about what's next. We're banged up. We need an open date. I know our group will be excited about the next one. Yeah, I'm going to go take a deep breath, get something good to eat, prop my feet up on the house, hug on them kids, Miss Sally, then tomorrow I'm going to wake up and we'll think about the next one."

Q: The emotion you showed when talking about your love for the game, do you sense this was your last game at Florida?

"No, I think about our players. That's what I think about. That was a good testament to the entirety of the group from a work ethic and commitment. The depth was challenged. The entire process was challenged. Had a lot of players play some of the best football of their careers, then some unknowns step up out of nowhere and make incredible plays.

"I think it's a testament to the entire organization. Young people, that's not normal, you know, to play with that type of effort in a game where there's a ton of adversity for them to keep fighting and find a way. I think it's pretty special. That's what I love about the game. These guys can learn a lot. That was a great memory there. I think there's a lot of life lessons for them in terms of what happened out there."

Jadan Baugh rushed for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown. Trey Smack booted three field goals, including two of 50-plus yards. Lagway threw for 280 yards. And a defense decimated by injuries played most of the game with safety Bryce Thornton the lone regular in the secondary beside seldom-used reserves Jamroc Grimsley, Alfonzo Allen Jr. (game-high 15 tackles), Ben Hanks III, J'Vari Flowers, Lagonza Hayward and Micheal Caraway Jr.

Still, whatever happens next, and what happened Saturday night, will be remembered primarily for two moments.

First, Boireau's interception to clinch the victory and the shocking roar it prompted inside the stadium. And second, the cloud hanging over Napier's tenure and the way he faced the scrutiny on the field during the game, and then a tense postgame press conference.

It's been that kind of season. It was that kind of game. It was a homecoming win that won't soon be forgotten for a myriad of reasons.

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