GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio spent an entire week working on his first play as a starter.It went smoothly in practice every time, resulting in a touchdown to speedster Antonio Callaway down the middle of the field. It was supposed to have the same outcome against UMass in the season opener Saturday.There was one problem, though: Del Rio forgot to account for the adrenaline rush that comes with taking his first meaningful snap in front of 90,000 screaming fans eager for an offensive resurgence.I was really juiced up. I was excited, absolutely, he said. That was probably the furthest Ive ever thrown a football. I threw it and was like, `Oh my God; that is way too far. I didnt think I could overthrow him, but I did.By several yards, too. It was one of about a half-dozen passes that Del Rio would like to have back. But his first collegiate start was a success for two reasons: He didnt have a turnover, and the Gators won.Del Rio completed 29 of 44 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. The Gators moved the ball decently, but bogged down near the red zone and ended up kicking three field goals and scoring just 24 points against a defense that allowed more than 50 three times in 2015.The less-than-ideal performance dropped the Gators out of The Associated Press poll released Tuesday. Florida opened the season at No. 25.The now-unranked Gators (1-0) begin Southeastern Conference play against Kentucky (0-1) on Saturday. It should provide Del Rio and Florida a better indicator of where they are offensively.I thought we did a good job of keeping the tempo up and pushing the pace of the game, not letting the defense dictate to us, Del Rio said. We just need to finish in the end zone. We need to score touchdowns to win games.Del Rio was sacked once and knocked down several more times. But coach Jim McElwain said he doesnt envision any changes to the offensive line, which has four returning starters from a unit that allowed a nation-leading 45 sacks in 2015. He expects the line to play better against the Wildcats.Weve got to clean that piece up and make sure we keep the chief clean, McElwain said. You know, weve got to make sure we secure the pocket. ... With a pretty clean pocket, hes going to get his feet set and get it to where it needs to go.It didnt really matter to Del Rio, who waited three years for his first collegiate start.The son of Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio began as a walk-on at Alabama in 2013. He never played a down and left the Tide after one year in hopes of finding a better opportunity. He landed at Oregon State and then transferred again after coach Mike Riley resigned to take over at Nebraska.He sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules, but spent the entire year learning Floridas offense and figuring out what McElwain wants -- which is simply to get the ball to open receivers and not make too many mistakes.Going into this season, Del Rio had thrown just 18 passes -- all in mop-up duty in 2014.He surpassed that in a little more than a quarter Saturday.Bigger tests are ahead, and Del Rio surely will get another chance at completing that long pass to Callaway.A couple times he maybe cut it loose a little quick, had maybe a little more time, but he was a little anxious, McElwain said. But I think overall now its just the progression of how you go about your daily work, and I know hell do that. There was never a sense of panic. The guy got them together, we moved it, we stalled ourselves. Now weve got to produce more points when were down in the red area.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Stitched NHL Jerseys Authentic . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. http://www.wholesaleauthenticjerseys.us/ . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Cheap Authentic NFL Jerseys . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. DENVER -- Cam Newton will get a few extra days to recover from his latest beating by Von Miller and crew. At least he wont have to seethe for seven months.Denvers dominant defense came up big against Newton again, and the Broncos escaped with a 21-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers?on Thursday night when Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal with four seconds remaining.The Broncos collected three sacks and hit Newton eight more times, not counting the abuse he took on his 11 runs.We wanted to make sure we got to him, safety T.J. Ward said. Every time he ran we tried to put helmet and shoulder pads on him. If youre not going to slide, were going to put something on you. We saw him limping throughout the game, so that running stuff, you cant do that all game.A few of the hits were of the helmet-to-helmet variety, but none resulted in any penalty yardage.Miller hit him high when DeMarcus Ware was taking him down, and linebacker Brandon Marshall hit him in the face just as he released a pass. Safety Darian Stewart was flagged for leveling him in the final minute, but because Newton was whistled for intentional grounding on the play, the penalties were offsetting.Its not my job to question the officials, Newton said after emerging from the trainers room. I really like this officiating crew, so it wasnt something I know they did intentionally. But its not fun getting hit in the head.A wobbled Newton appeared to have done just enough to get a measure of revenge for that bludgeoning in Super Bowl 50, when Miller stripped the ball and the Lombardi Trophy from his grasp.Newton put the Panthers on the cusp of victory with a 16-yard pass to Kelvin Benjamin at the Denver 37 in the closing seconds, and another short pass to Ted Ginn Jr.?put Gano well within his range.Gano, whose practice kick hugged the right upright after Denver had called timeout, missed wide left moments later.I was going to drill it, no doubt in my mind, Gano said. But this happens. Its not going to define my season.Newton, the NFLs reigning MVP, was 18-of-33 for 194 yards with one touchdown and one interception.Just as he did over and over in the Super Bowl, Miller made a big play late, sweeping past right tackle Mike Remmers and sacking Newton at the 2-minute warning. A penalty on fourth-and-21, however, kept the Carolina drive alive until Newton retreated to the sideline when Gano camee in for the potential game-winner.ddddddddddddHis miss only piled on the pain for Newton, who stayed on one knee in disbelief as the stadium rocked and Trevor Siemian trotted out for one victory formation snap and a win in his first NFL start.Weve got a heck of a team, a resilient team. I think you saw that tonight, said Peyton Mannings successor, who finished 18-of-26 for 178 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and two sacks.The Panthers took a 17-7 led into the fourth quarter of the first Super Bowl rematch to start a season since 1970, but Siemian hit running back C.J. Anderson for a 25-yard touchdown on the next snap.Newtons next pass was intercepted by Harris at the Carolina 23. Ten plays later, Anderson bulled his way in from the 1 to give Denver its first lead at 21-17 with 9:26 remaining.After Ganos 36-yard field goal brought the Panthers to 21-20, Carolina forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at its 40 with 3:06 remaining.TAKE A KNEE: Marshall, a college teammate of Colin Kaepernick, knelt?during the playing of the national anthem. Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem during San Franciscos preseason games, explaining it was to protest racial oppression and police brutality in the United States. Im not against the military, Im not against America, Marshall said. Im against social injustice.OLD TIMES: Manning made his first appearance at Mile High as a retiree, walking through the tunnel with the Lombardi Trophy. Manning said he spoke with Siemian on the eve of the game and told him he was in his corner.POACHING PANTHERS: Carolina led the league with 39 takeaways last season and had three in the opener, including two on Denvers first two drives. Shaq Thompson recovered rookie Devontae Bookers fumble at the Carolina 29, and Bene Benwikere intercepted Siemians pass at the Panthers 10.FIELD FLIP: Punter Andy Lee, who surrendered a Super Bowl-record 61-yard punt return to Jordan Norwood in February, pinned the Broncos back with a franchise-record 76-yard punt in the third quarter. His next punt traveled 61 yards.FULLBACK FUN: Rookie Andy Janovich was brought in to bore holes for Anderson, but he surprised the Panthers with a 28-yard touchdown run after Denvers first two drives ended in turnovers. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '