GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Kentucky used a strong defensive showing to secure a 26-16 win over the 12th-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Kentucky's defense turned in a huge effort, holding Florida to 279 yards total yards and held Florida’s talented quarterback Anthony Richardson in check all night long. The defense also came up with two interceptions that played a huge factor in the outcome.
The win also was a milestone for Mark Stoops who became Kentucky’s all-time winningest coach with 61 wins, passing the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Kentucky (2-0, 1-0 SEC) struggled on offense for most of the game, but managed to make just enough plays at the right time. Quarterback Will Levis completed 13 of 24 passes through the air for 202 yards and a touchdown. Kavosiey Smoke turned in a solid effort, with 80 yards on 14 carries, with most of those yards coming in the second half.
Florida (1-1, 0-1 SEC) would open up the scoring on their second possession, as they would drove deep into Wildcat territory. The Kentucky defense would eventually hold, and force the Gators into a field goal attempt.
Adam Mihalek would come on and convert the 39-yard attempt and put the Gators ahead 3-0 with 10:03 in the first quarter.
The Wildcats struggled to get anything going on their first three drives as they all ended with punts and managed just four first downs in the opening period.
Kentucky would finally get the big play they'd been needing as Levis would go deep to receiver Dane Key, who made an incredible leaping catch with a defender draped all over him, for the score and a 7-3 lead following Matt Ruffolo's extra point kick with 11:36 remaining in the first half.
Florida would respond quickly as Montrell Johnson would rip off a 40-yard run to put the Gators deep in Wildcat territory. But again the Kentucky defense would be up to the task, as they would once again force another field goal.
Mihalek would nail the 50-yard kick attempt to shave Kentucky's lead to just 7-6 with 10:01 in the quarter.
Kentucky would have their next drive halted as Levis would be hit during his throw and Florida's Gervon Dexter would grab the ball out of the air for the interception, giving Florida the ball back at the Wildcat 34 with 8:31 in the second frame.
Five plays later, Trevor Etienne would cap off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run the first lead for the Gators. The two-point conversion pass from Richardson to Etienne would be successful and Florida would lead 14-7 with 5:49 remaining until halftime.
Things would take a turn for the worse for Kentucky, as they would go three-and-out on their next possession. And even worse on fourth down, as the snap to punter Colin Goodfellow would go over his head, into the end zone and Goodfellow would kick the ball through the back of the end zone for a safety. And just like that, Florida held a 16-7 lead with 4:12 left in the half.
Florida would take the next possession off the free kick, with a chance to take full control of the ballgame.
But the Wildcat defense would come up big again, as Richardson tried to go his target in the flat, only to see Wildcat linebacker Jordan Wright make a one-handed interception and returned it all the way to the Florida six yard line.
On a second-and-goal play, the Wildcats would get into the end zone as Levis would sneak up the middle to cut the Florida lead to three. A bad snap on the extra point try would prevent a kick attempt and make the halftime score 16-13 in favor of the Gators.
In the third quarter, Kentucky's rushing attack would finally begin to establish itself as the Wildcats would put together an 11-play 69-yard drive that consumed 5:43 off the clock. The drive would end with a Ruffolo 24-yard field goal to tie the game at 16 with 6:35 on the clock.
Florida would again drive, looking to answer with a score of their own, only to be turned away by the Kentucky defense. This time, the defense would handle the scoring.
With the ball at the Kentucky 39, Richardson would throw another interception, this time to Keidron Smith. The Wildcat defensive back would elude Richardson to reach the end zone, and give Kentucky their first lead of the game. Ruffolo added the point after and Kentucky led 23-16 with 3:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Trying to get a spark on their next offensive possession, Florida would choose to roll the dice and attempt to convert a fourth-and-three from their own 40. But the Kentucky defense was up to the challenge as a pass from Richardson would be knocked away by Carrington Valentine, giving the ball back to the Wildcats.
Kentucky would make the Gators pay, as Kavosiey Smoke would rush for 18 yards on first down, getting them to the 22. But the drive would stall and Ruffolo would come on to kick a 38-yard field goal. The kick miss wide left and Florida got the ball back with 6:13 to play.
Florida would again be unable to get anything going on the ensuing possession, and again be forced to go for it on fourth down. Again a pass from Richardson would fall incomplete and give the ball back to Kentucky, this time at the Florida 24.
Content on running clock, Kentucky stick to the ground game and settle for a 26-yard field goal from Ruffolo with 1:24 to play, extending the lead to 26-16.
Florida couldn't get anything to happen on their final possession as the Wildcats secured the win.
Kentucky will be in action next Saturday, as they host the Youngstown State Peguins. Kickoff is set for noon ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
Kentucky 0 13 10 3 = 26
Florida 3 13 0 0 = 16
First Quarter
UF - Adam Mihalek 39 field goal, 10:03
Second Quarter
UK - D.Key 55 yd pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffolo kick), 11:36
UF - Adam Mihalek 50 field goal, 10:01
UF - T.Etienne 11 yd rush (T.Etienne pass from A.Richardson), 5:49
UF - SAFETY, 4:12
UK - Will Levis 1 run (pass from Poore failed), 1:25
Third Quarter
UK - Matt Ruffolo 24 field goal, 6:35
UK - K.Smith 65 interception return (Matt Ruffolo kick), 3:25
Fourth Quarter
UK - Matt Ruffolo 26 field goal, 1:24
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