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Trask finds Pitts for 3 TDs, No. 6 Florida tops Kentucky
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida's Kyle-to-Kyle connection returned in a big way after a two-week hiatus and put the sixth-ranked Gators on the verge of the Southeastern Conference championship game.
Kyle Trask found Kyle Pitts for three touchdowns, including a 56-yarder in which the star tight end ran away from a cornerback, and Florida overcame a sluggish start to beat Kentucky 34-10 Saturday in the Swamp.
It was Pitts' first game since suffering a concussion and breaking his nose on a vicious hit against Georgia. Trask wasted little time reconnecting with his favorite and most talented target.
Trask has 34 TD passes this season, moving him past 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and into a tie for third on the school's single-season list. Only Danny Wuerffel (39 in 1996, 35 in 1995) is ahead of him. Rex Grossman also threw 34 in 2001.
Trask did break one of Wuerffel's records Saturday. He became the first player in school history with at least three TD passes in eight consecutive games, topping Wuerffel's mark of seven set in 1996.
Trask is on pace to pass Wuerffel for TDs, too, and it could happen in his final two regular-season games. More importantly for Trask and the Gators (7-1), though, is they can clinch the East Division with a victory at Tennessee next week.
The Gators will want to avoid another lackluster start in that one. The Wildcats (3-6) kept Florida's high-scoring offense in check for the first half, thanks partly to a fumble and a dropped third-down pass.
Kadarius Toney turned the game by taking advantage of a huge mistake by All-American punter Max Duffy. Kicking from their own 10-yard line, the Wildcats called for a kick left, but Duffy shanked it right.
Kentucky's coverage unit surrounded Marco Wilson on the left while Toney caught the ball on the right with no one near him and went untouched for a 50-yard score that put the Gators up 14-10 with 42 seconds remaining.
The Wildcats added to their self-inflicted woes with three straight penalties to start the third quarter, giving Florida 39 yards and setting up Trask's second TD pass to Pitts.
THE TAKEAWAY
Kentucky: The Wildcats played without leading rusher Chris Rodriguez for the second consecutive week and averaged 3.4 yards a carry. It was far from ideal for a team built to run the ball and stay in short-yardage situations on second and third downs.
Florida: Coach Dan Mullen will have plenty to address after a second straight ho-hum performance. The defense struggled early and offensive miscues put the Gators in an early hole. But Trask, Pitts and Toney helped mask many of the team's flaws.
REPORTERS HONORED
Florida recognized two retiring writers at halftime, presenting Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley and beat writer Robbie Andreu with Gators swag and invited them to the team's home finale against LSU in two weeks as guests. Dooley and Andreu are best friends who spent much of the last three decades covering the Gators. Former athletic director Jeremy Foley and retired coach Steve Spurrier were on hand for the celebration.
UP NEXT
Kentucky: Hosts South Carolina next Saturday. The Wildcats have won five of the last six meetings.
Florida: Can wrap up the East next Saturday by beating Tennessee for the 15th time in the last 16 years.
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Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 15 | 21 |
Rushing | 9 | 5 |
Passing | 4 | 12 |
Penalty | 2 | 4 |
3rd Down Conv | 2-13 | 3-9 |
4th Down Conv | 2-3 | 1-1 |
Total Net Yards | 221 | 418 |
Total Plays | 62 | 57 |
Avg Gain | 3.6 | 7.3 |
Net Yards Rushing | 159 | 104 |
Rush Attempts | 43 | 25 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.7 | 4.2 |
Yards Passing | 62 | 314 |
Comp. - Att. | 10-19 | 26-32 |
Yards Per Pass | 2.2 | 9.4 |
Penalties - Yards | 8-74 | 5-40 |
Touchdowns | 1 | 4 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 3 |
Other | 0 | 1 |
Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 2-2 |
Int. Thrown | 3 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 5-43.6 | 2-45.5 |
Return Yards | 0 | 81 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 2-59 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 3-22 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
T. Wilson
3 QB
|
T. Wilson | 10/18 | 62 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gatewood
2 QB
|
J. Gatewood | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
A. Rose
10 RB
|
A. Rose | 15 | 58 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Smoke
20 RB
|
K. Smoke | 14 | 47 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Wilson
3 QB
|
T. Wilson | 11 | 25 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ali
6 WR
|
J. Ali | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McClain
17 RB
|
J. McClain | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gatewood
2 QB
|
J. Gatewood | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Ali
6 WR
|
J. Ali | 6 | 6 | 32 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Upshaw
88 TE
|
K. Upshaw | 3 | 3 | 28 | 1 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Rose
10 RB
|
A. Rose | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Epps
81 WR
|
I. Epps | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Dailey Jr.
89 WR
|
A. Dailey Jr. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Harris
86 WR
|
D. Harris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Drennen II
5 RB
|
M. Drennen II | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. Weaver
13 LB
|
J. Weaver | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Echols
26 DB
|
B. Echols | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Y. Corker
29 DB
|
Y. Corker | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Davis
44 LB
|
J. Davis | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Looney
59 DE
|
K. Looney | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Joseph
1 DB
|
K. Joseph | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Square
5 LB
|
D. Square | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Tisdale
7 S
|
V. Tisdale | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Casey
6 LB
|
J. Casey | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Wright
15 LB
|
J. Wright | 2-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Hoskins
92 DT
|
P. Hoskins | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Bohanna
95 NT
|
Q. Bohanna | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Paschal
4 DE
|
J. Paschal | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Robinson
9 DB
|
D. Robinson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. McCall
50 NT
|
M. McCall | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tisdale
33 RB
|
T. Tisdale | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Dort Jr.
3 DB
|
C. Dort Jr. | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Mosely
21 DB
|
Q. Mosely | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Oats
22 LB
|
C. Oats | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jackson
56 LB
|
D. Jackson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Drennen II
5 RB
|
M. Drennen II | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Watson
31 LB
|
J. Watson | 1-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Rogers
52 DL
|
J. Rogers | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mahone
93 DT
|
J. Mahone | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Ajian
23 DB
|
T. Ajian | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. Ruffolo
96 K
|
M. Ruffolo | 1/1 | 22 | 1/1 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Duffy
93 P
|
M. Duffy | 5 | 43.6 | 2 | 61 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Z. Johnson
28 DB
|
Z. Johnson | 1 | 13.0 | 13 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
K. Trask
11 QB
|
K. Trask | 21/27 | 256 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Jones
5 QB
|
E. Jones | 4/4 | 46 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Toney
1 WR
|
K. Toney | 1/1 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Pierce
27 RB
|
D. Pierce | 8 | 67 | 0 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
20 RB
|
M. Davis | 8 | 21 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Jones
5 QB
|
E. Jones | 2 | 8 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Wright
6 RB
|
N. Wright | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Trask
11 QB
|
K. Trask | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Clement
24 RB
|
I. Clement | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
K. Pitts
84 TE
|
K. Pitts | 7 | 5 | 99 | 3 | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Copeland
15 WR
|
J. Copeland | 1 | 1 | 42 | 0 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Wright
6 RB
|
N. Wright | 6 | 5 | 40 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Toney
1 WR
|
K. Toney | 3 | 3 | 38 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Wells
12 WR
|