![September 9, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators running back Treyaun Webb (20) stretches for a first down that is tackled by McNeese State Cowboys linebacker Micah Davey (48) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/1814a5aa02a93b1ac2103f38d942ba68.jpg)
Montrell Johnson Jr. ran for 119 yards and two scores and Florida posted touchdowns on its first seven drives as the Gators routed FCS opponent McNeese 49-7 on Saturday night in Gainesville, Florida.
Johnson’s 15 carries included scoring runs of 2 yards in the first quarter and 8 yards in the third for the Gators (1-1). Treyaun Webb (14 rushes, 71 yards) also ran for two touchdowns.
Graham Mertz completed 14 of 17 passes for 193 yards and one score. He connected with Ricky Pearsall on a 50-yard pass play with 3:45 left in the third quarter, extending the blow to 40-0.
Florida defeated the Cowboys 560-112 and had 33 first downs to McNeese’s six. The Gators’ two shortest scoring drives covered 62 yards each.
Micah Davey had 13 tackles (7 solo) to lead the Cowboys (0-2). Nate Glantz was 6 of 13 passing for 62 yards.
Coleby Hamm’s 8-yard touchdown run with 2:24 remaining allowed McNeese to avoid the shutout. The score was determined by John Brown Jr.’s fumble recovery. at the Florida 8-yard line.
McNeese’s D’Angelo Durham (11 rushes, 45 yards) was stopped in the end zone for a safety and Florida’s 42-0 lead at 2:54 of the third.
The lead grew to 49-0 when Webb ran five yards for a score two minutes into the fourth quarter. He also had a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Seventh-year college veteran Micah Leon from Florida, a graduate transfer and walk-on quarterback, entered in the fourth quarter. He was 2 of 3 passing for 16 yards.
Florida scored touchdowns on each of its four first-half possessions and built a 26-0 halftime cushion. Four different Gators found the end zone, and they outscored McNeese 295-51 and had 20 first downs to the Cowboys’ three.
Trevor Etienne (11-84) ran 8 yards for a touchdown with 34 seconds left in the half.
Rushing touchdowns from Johnson and Mertz gave the Gators a 13-0 lead after the first quarter.
Johnson’s 2-yard score at 10:59 capped a 9-play, 62-yard drive. Mertz’s 1-yard jump with 28 seconds left capped an 11-play, 99-yard drive.
— Field-level media