Its hands full with Furman for most of three quarters, Florida finally pulled away Saturday for a 54-32 home victory over the Paladins.

The Gators (6-5) were ambushed by Furman’s fast start and trailed 22-7 after one quarter. Nursing a tenuous 37-32 lead after three quarters, the Gators put the game away with 10 points in a 16-second span early in the fourth quarter.

Caleb Sturgis kicked a 55-yard field goal with 13:08 left, pushing the Florida lead to 40-32. On the first play of the ensuing possession, De’Ante Saunders returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown, giving Florida a 47-32 advantage with 12:52 remaining.

Jelani Jenkins sealed the victory, returning an interception 75 yards for a touchdown with 4:00 left to make it 54-32 Gators.

Three touchdowns and a safety in the first 13 minutes staked the Paladins (6-5) to a 22-7 lead. Florida crawled back with 20 unanswered points in the second quarter, taking a 27-22 lead on John Brantley’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Quinton Dunbar with 3:08 left in the first half.

Brantley finished with four touchdown passes, two to Andre Debose (80 and 64 yards). Furman’s Jerodis Williams rushed for two touchdowns (1 and 77 yards).

The Gators host Florida State on Saturday.