Quick hits: No. 2 Alabama squashes No. 18 Florida Gators 29-15 in SEC Championship

No. 18 Florida Gators (10-3) football saw its offense fall to greater depths on Saturday as the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) pulled away late with a 29-15 victory to win the 2015 SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.

Though UF once again avoided its first shutout since 1988, that was about the only positive to take away from the affair as the Gators offense continued to struggle and their defense simply got worn down after being on the field for three-quarters of the game.

Major offensive issues: There are so many different ways to quantify how poorly Florida’s offense played Saturday. The Gators went 0-for-11 on third down, registered just seven first downs (to 23 for the Tide), ran drastically fewer plays than their opponent (84-45), totaled just 180 yards (110 combined on three plays) and were outpossessed 43:29-16:31.

When sophomore wide receiver C.J. Worton hauled in a tremendous 46-yard touchdown reception late in the second half, it was Florida’s first offensive touchdown in 114:58 of game time and first one in 139:24 of regulation.

He is (still) Antonio: The Gators did put together a couple of big plays in the first half but none was more important than an electric 85-yard punt return touchdown scored by who else but freshman wide receiver Antonio Callaway. The score was the longest punt return touchdown in SEC Championship Game history and actually put Florida ahead of Alabama 7-2 in the early going. On the prior offensive series, Callaway hauled in a 46-yard reception for UF’s longest offensive play of the day. The Gators actually drove deep into Crimson Tide territory on that series but did not come away with any points after seeing a field goal blocked.

Florida with the HUGE 46-yard pass play in this @BestBuy highlight. https://t.co/nE5V6uXJ5k

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 5, 2015

Good defense not enough: Even though Florida’s defense was nails through more than two quarters and even registered an important fumble (forced by redshirt junior linebacker Jarrad Davis, recovered by senior safety Marcus Maye), it simply got worn down as Alabama’s offense won the possession battle nearly three-to-one. The Gators’ secondary also got burned for two late Crimson Tide touchdowns, proving that even a solid unit like that is vulnerable when exhausted.

Everything else: Coming soon.

Former player reactions:

Here we go again.. Don't know what kind of punt protection that was, especially being backed up.. #gogators 😡

— Bobby McCray (@bobbymccray) December 5, 2015

If you dont think special teams matter, take a look at this game…

— Jermaine McCollum (@Coach_McCollum) December 5, 2015

You can't tell me that shouldn't have been offsides on the 3rd and 20

— Tate Casey (@TateCasey) December 5, 2015

🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊

— Jaylen Watkins (@jwat14) December 5, 2015

Out kicked the coverage..😊. Calloway for 6 #UFvsBAMA #letsgo #GatorNation

— Jacquez Green™ (@JacquezGreen) December 5, 2015

Hell yeah!!! We scored a TD! Come on Gators! Keep believing!

— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) December 5, 2015

YES

— Kyle Christy (@KyleChristy4) December 5, 2015

BEAST!!!!!!!

— Mr. Snell (@theebigbossSS) December 5, 2015

He’s a beast !!!!!!!!!! 81 🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊

— BrandonSpikes55 (@brandonspikes55) December 5, 2015

Return for touchdown and "The Dentist" is kicking finally….. We call that a Special teams win right there

— Tate Casey (@TateCasey) December 5, 2015

🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊

— Jermaine McCollum (@Coach_McCollum) December 5, 2015

🐊🐊 bingo

— Jelani Jenkins (@jelanijenkins3) December 5, 2015

JIT nice.

— BrandonSpikes55 (@brandonspikes55) December 5, 2015

Just chill 🐊🐊🐊

— Earl Everett (@EarlEverett) December 5, 2015

https://twitter.com/GatorDT6/status/673262855219576833

Go Gators!

— Max Garcia (@MGarcia_76) December 5, 2015

Defense is busting Henry's ass today… Keep it up boys!

— Mr. Snell (@theebigbossSS) December 5, 2015

McElwain should be ashamed of himself not having another QB ready to play Harris hasn't been good the last 5 weeks. Unreal!!

— Aaron Walker (@Awalker245) December 6, 2015

Finally an offensive touchdown and the refs trying to take it away from us smh

— C.B. (@cory_bailey) December 6, 2015

Them boys still workin ✊🏽

— Max Garcia (@MGarcia_76) December 6, 2015

Treon with the ⭕️ button

— Rod Johnson #⃣5⃣5⃣ (@Almighty_rod55) December 6, 2015

Offense is so awful it's literally making the defense give up..

— Bobby McCray (@bobbymccray) December 6, 2015

So let's be honest gator fans…is this team any better than last years team? Or was the competition just worse?

— Noah Brindise (@NoahBrindise) December 6, 2015

All the great championship teams have good qb play…..#GoGators

— 12:16 (@ahmadblack35) December 6, 2015

#GoGators

— Cornelius Ingram (@CIngram_85) December 6, 2015

Its still #GoGators… 🐊😎

— Frankie Hammond Jr (@FHammond85) December 6, 2015

Proud of our Gators… Fought really hard & we'll be back next year.

— James Bates (@jb8sy) December 6, 2015