Florida QB Aaron Philo benched for Tramell Jones Jr. after 2 first-half interceptions vs. Georgia

Florida quarterback Aaron Philo was benched after throwing a pair of interception early in Saturday's matchup between the No. 17 Gators and No. 3 Georgia. After Philo's picks led the Bulldogs to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, head coach Jon Sumrall opted to put in sophomore quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. as QB1.

Philo, who was back as starting quarterback after a brief absence with a shoulder injury, did not get things started on a good note. The junior QB ended his opening drive in the first quarter with a baffling interception on the run.

On third-and-6, Philo faced pressure from the Bulldogs' defensive line, and was forced to scramble around before he lost his footing. But Philo, as he went down, decided to fling the ball into the air — where it was easily picked off by Georgia defensive back Ellis Robinson IV.

Georgia, which opened the game with a missed field goal that went well right, initially looked like it wouldn't be able to convert Philo's gift of a turnover into points. But on fourth-and-15, Gators cornerback Javier Jones took out the legs of Bulldogs punter Drew Miller, causing a roughing the kicker penalty that gave Georgia the first down.

With the drive kept alive, the Bulldogs went on to score a touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead thanks to some awful mistakes from Florida.

After a three-and-out Gators drive, Philo then went on to throw another first-half pick, with the ball slipping through the hands of his receiver and into the hands of Georgia DB Demello Jones.

Despite the great field position, the Bulldogs had to settle for a field goal to grow the lead; kicker Peyton Woodring, who missed the earlier attempt, successfully hit the 28-yarder.

Tramell Jones Jr. then replaced Philo on the next drive, but didn't fare much better. On Jones' second drive of the game, a strip sack led the sophomore to fumble, letting Georgia pick up a scoop-and-score touchdown to make it 24-0.

In the third quarter, Jones finally got Florida within a few yards of the end zone, but threw an interception that was wrangled in by DB Braylon Conley.

Though Jones did eventually score a touchdown in the fourth quarter, taking the two-yard rush himself to break up the shutout. But it wasn't enough to stave off the Bulldogs, who got the win after a dominant defensive showing.

Philo sat out the Gators' 27-24 upset win over Georgia two weeks ago with an injury to his throwing shoulder, leaving backup Tramell Jones Jr. to earn his first career start, but returned Saturday after Florida's bye week.

On Saturday, Jones finished 18-for-25 on passing, taking four sacks.