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Kentucky rallies past No. 10 Florida 20-13 in SEC showdown
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) On the verge of falling further behind No. 10 Florida, Kentucky quickly swung momentum with several gut-check plays and held on for a memorable victory.
Not to mention, an important one for a Wildcats team with expectations of contending.
Trevin Wallace returned a blocked field goal 76 yards for the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter, Chris Rodriguez Jr. had a 9-yard scoring run early in the fourth and Kentucky made a final defensive stand to hold off Florida 20-13 on Saturday night.
The Southeastern Conference East Division showdown was more of a slog than a slugfest for much of the night, and the Gators (3-2, 1-2) were poised to add Jace Christmann's 48-yard field goal attempt to their 10-7 lead.
Kentucky defensive end Josh Paschal got a hand on the low kick that sent the ball fluttering behind the line to Wallace, who jetted past a tackler on the left sideline and cut back through a small seam to race for the game-changing TD with 6:36 remaining in the third.
''My job is to play like the safety back there in case anything goes wrong,'' the freshman said. ''The ball got tipped and it came right to me. ... I knew what to do when I got the ball. I felt one lineman's hand brush off me and I knew I was gone.''
Added Paschal: ''They gave me some room for me to get inside and jump and make a big play, and Trevin made a bigger play.''
The Wildcats (5-0, 3-0) soon made another to build on their lead.
They turned it over on downs at the Florida 34 to start the fourth quarter but quickly created another opportunity when linebacker J.J. Weaver intercepted Emory Jones' pass for a first down at the Gators 29. That set up Rodriguez's 9-yard TD for a 20-10 cushion with 11:32 remaining.
Florida kept fighting and got within seven on Christmann's 33-yard field goal with 6:23 left before getting the ball again a couple of minutes later and driving to the Kentucky 5. A 4-yard loss on a pass play and false start penalty moved the Gators back to the 14, but they still had a final chance from the 8 before Jacquez Jones swatted away Jones' fourth-down pass with 18 seconds left to seal the win.
Fans stormed the field to celebrate as Kentucky beat Florida at home for the first time since 1986 and took another step toward potentially challenging No. 2 Georgia in the East. The Wildcats are 5-0 for the first time since going 10-3 in 2018 and just the fourth time in the past 70 years.
''Never been a part of a team that had fans storm the field,'' said Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, a Penn State transfer. ''The fans were awesome.''
The Wildcats won despite being outgained 382-211, but got a 41-yard TD pass from Levis to Wan'Dale Robinson in the first quarter and 99 yards rushing on 19 carries from Rodriguez.
Eight false starts comprised more than half of Florida's 15 penalties for 115 yards. Jones completed 23 of 31 passes for 203 yards, but the Gators were held way below their average of nearly 541 yards that ranked ninth coming in.
''I mean, you're not going make all the mistakes we made in the course of a game and expect to win,'' Florida coach Dan Mullen said. ''You're not going to win in the SEC doing that.''
BRING THE NOISE
Kentucky's loud, boisterous home crowd of 61,632 appeared to disrupt the Gators' cadence and may have contributed to all those false starts. While Florida players chalked it up to lack of focus, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops was happy with the edge the noise gave his team. Especially at the end.
''There was another false start, and thank you, fans, for affecting the game,'' he said.
THREE AND OUT
Both teams struggled on third down. Kentucky entered the game converting 54% of its chances but made just 1 of 8 against Florida. The Gators were just 4 of 13 after entering with a 50% conversion rate.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Florida figures to drop a few slots with its second SEC loss. Kentucky made a strong case for joining the rankings for the first time since the 2018 season.
THE TAKEAWAY
Florida: The Gators moved the ball with Jones and Anthony Richardson but couldn't finish other than their first TD. Christmann's 51 yard field goal provided an edge, but the block and interception dug a hole they couldn't climb from. The false starts in a loud environment stalled drives and momentum.
''The main thing that we had to come do is handle the environment,'' Jones said. ''I think we did part of the game, but we just had too many penalties.''
Kentucky: The Wildcats really had only one sustained drive over 50 yards and committed yet another turnover that nearly cost them until Paschal and Wallace prevented that from happening with a timely special teams play and TD. Weaver's pickoff proved pivotal in a defensive battle.
UP NEXT
Florida: Hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Kentucky: Hosts LSU on Saturday.
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E. Jones
5 QB 203 PaYds, PaTD, INT, 63 RuYds |
|
C. Rodriguez Jr.
24 RB 99 RuYds, RuTD |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 23 | 13 |
Rushing | 8 | 7 |
Passing | 13 | 5 |
Penalty | 2 | 1 |
3rd Down Conv | 3-12 | 1-9 |
4th Down Conv | 0-1 | 0-1 |
Total Net Yards | 382 | 224 |
Total Plays | 71 | 47 |
Avg Gain | 5.4 | 4.8 |
Net Yards Rushing | 171 | 137 |
Rush Attempts | 39 | 30 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.4 | 4.6 |
Yards Passing | 211 | 87 |
Comp. - Att. | 24-32 | 7-17 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.6 | 3.9 |
Penalties - Yards | 15-115 | 4-30 |
Touchdowns | 1 | 2 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 1 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 1 |
Punts - Avg | 5-42.8 | 6-42.5 |
Return Yards | 55 | 26 |
Punts - Returns | 1-13 | 1-6 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 1-42 | 1-20 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
E. Jones
5 QB
|
E. Jones | 23/31 | 203 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Richardson
15 QB
|
A. Richardson | 1/1 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
E. Jones
5 QB
|
E. Jones | 13 | 63 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Pierce
27 RB
|
D. Pierce | 8 | 54 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Richardson
15 QB
|
A. Richardson | 5 | 25 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
20 RB
|
M. Davis | 8 | 22 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Wright
6 RB
|
N. Wright | 5 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Copeland
1 WR
|
J. Copeland | 8 | 6 | 59 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Whittemore
14 WR
|
T. Whittemore | 6 | 4 | 36 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
X. Henderson
3 WR
|
X. Henderson | 4 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Wright
6 RB
|
N. Wright | 3 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Shorter
4 WR
|
J. Shorter | 3 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Gamble
2 TE
|
K. Gamble | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Wells
12 WR
|
R. Wells | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Pierce
27 RB
|
D. Pierce | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Fraziars
0 WR
|
J. Fraziars | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
20 RB
|
M. Davis | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. Newkirk
44 DL
|
D. Newkirk | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Carter
6 DL
|
Z. Carter | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. Christmann
47 K
|
J. Christmann | 2/3 | 51 | 1/1 | 7 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Crawshaw
26 P
|
J. Crawshaw | 5 | 42.8 | 1 | 58 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
X. Henderson 3 WR
|
X. Henderson | 1 | 13.0 | 13 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
W. Levis
7 QB
|
W. Levis | 7/17 | 87 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Rodriguez Jr.
24 RB
|
C. Rodriguez Jr. | 19 | 99 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Levis
7 QB
|
W. Levis | 6 | 21 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Smoke
0 RB
|
K. Smoke | 4 | 17 | 0 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
W. Robinson
1 WR
|
W. Robinson | 6 | 4 | 65 | 1 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ali
6 WR
|
J. Ali | 2 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Bates
80 TE
|
B. Bates | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Epps
81 WR
|
I. Epps | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Harris
86 WR
|
D. Harris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Cummings
84 WR
|
I. Cummings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Rigg
83 TE
|
J. Rigg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Smoke
0 RB
|
K. Smoke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. McClain
17 RB
|
J. McClain | 1 | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. Weaver
13 LB
|
J. Weaver | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. Ruffolo
96 K
|
M. Ruffolo | 0/0 | 0 | 2/3 | 2 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
C. Goodfellow
94 P
|
C. Goodfellow | 6 | 42.5 | 3 | 47 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Z. Johnson
28 DB
|
Z. Johnson | 1 | 25.0 | 25 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Ali 6 WR
|
J. Ali | 1 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | FLA 25 | 2:56 | 5 | 34 | Punt |
11:05 | FLA 25 | 3:08 | 7 | 75 | TD |
5:19 | FLA 25 | 1:23 | 3 | 3 | Punt |
0:07 | FLA 12 | 1:43 | 3 | -5 | Punt |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:46 | FLA 12 | 6:14 | 11 | 55 | FG |
1:56 | FLA 13 | 1:56 | 4 | 21 | Half |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:53 | FLA 20 | 2:41 | 5 | 38 | Punt |
9:12 | UK 31 | 2:36 | 4 | 0 | Blocked FG |
6:36 | FLA 25 | 3:00 | 6 | 17 | Punt |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
14:56 | FLA 34 | 1:11 | 2 | -4 | INT |
11:32 | FLA 25 | 5:09 | 13 | 59 | FG |
4:39 | FLA 38 | 4:21 | 11 | 54 | Downs |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:04 | UK 20 | 0:59 | 3 | 5 | Punt |
7:57 | UK 25 | 2:38 | 5 | 75 | TD |
3:56 | UK 22 | 3:49 | 7 | 25 | Punt |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:24 | UK 35 | 1:38 | 3 | 9 | Punt |
5:32 | FLA 30 | 3:36 | 5 | 15 | Punt |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | UK 25 | 2:07 | 5 | 28 | Punt |
10:12 | UK 22 | 1:00 | 3 | 13 | INT |
3:36 | UK 19 | 3:40 | 7 | 47 | Downs |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:45 | FLA 29 | 2:13 | 5 | 29 | TD |
6:23 | UK 25 | 1:44 | 3 | 8 | Punt |
0:18 | UK 8 | 0:18 | 1 | 0 | Game |
- Punt (5 plays, 34 yards, 2:56 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) C.Poore kicks 65 yards from KEN 35 to the FLA End Zone. Touchback. |
Penalty | 1 & 10 - UK 25 (15:00 - 1st) PENALTY on KEN-M.McCall Defensive Offside 5 yards accepted. No Play. |
+4 YD | 1 & 5 - FLA 30 (15:00 - 1st) E.Jones rushed to FLA 34 for 4 yards. Tackled by KEN at FLA 34. |
+18 YD | 2 & 1 - FLA 34 (14:30 - 1st) E.Jones pass complete to FLA 34. Catch made by T.Whittemore at FLA 34. Gain of 18 yards. Tackled by KEN at KEN 48. |
+7 YD | 1 & 10 - UK 48 (13:59 - 1st) E.Jones pass complete to KEN 48. Catch made by T.Whittemore at KEN 48. Gain of 7 yards. Tackled by KEN at KEN 41. |
-3 YD | 2 & 3 - UK 41 (13:26 - 1st) M.Davis rushed to KEN 44 for -3 yards. Tackled by KEN at KEN 44. |
+3 YD | 3 & 6 - UK 44 (12:49 - 1st) E.Jones rushed to KEN 41 for 3 yards. Tackled by KEN at KEN 41. |
Punt | 4 & 3 - UK 41 (12:14 - 1st) J.Crawshaw punts 41 yards to KEN End Zone Center-FLA. Touchback. |
- Punt (3 plays, 5 yards, 0:59 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
No Gain | 1 & 10 - UK 20 (12:04 - 1st) W.Levis steps back to pass. W.Levis pass incomplete intended for I.Epps. |
+5 YD | 2 & 10 - UK 20 (11:56 - 1st) K.Smoke rushed to KEN 25 for 5 yards. Tackled by FLA at KEN 25. |
No Gain | 3 & 5 - UK 25 (11:17 - 1st) W.Levis steps back to pass. W.Levis pass incomplete intended for K.Smoke. |
Punt | 4 & 5 - UK 25 (11:12 - 1st) C.Goodfellow punts 35 yards to FLA 40 Center-KEN. Out of bounds. PENALTY on FLA-D.Black Unnecessary Roughness / Offense 15 yards accepted. |
- Touchdown (7 plays, 75 yards, 3:08 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+13 YD | 1 & 10 - FLA 25 (11:05 - 1st) D.Pierce rushed to FLA 38 for 13 yards. Tackled by KEN at FLA 38. |
+11 YD | 1 & 10 - FLA 38 (10:43 - 1st) A.Richardson rushed to FLA 49 for 11 yards. Tackled by KEN at FLA 49. |
+22 YD | 1 & 10 - FLA 49 (10:09 - 1st) E.Jones pass complete to FLA 49. Catch made by X.Henderson at FLA 49. Gain of 22 yards. Tackled by KEN at KEN 29. |
+9 YD | 1 & 10 - UK 29 (9:39 - 1st) E.Jones pass complete to KEN 29. Catch made by X.Henderson at KEN 29. Gain of 9 yards. Pushed out of bounds by KEN at KEN 20. |
+13 YD | 2 & 1 - UK 20 (9:11 - 1st) D.Pierce rushed to KEN 7 for 13 yards. Pushed out of bounds by KEN at KEN 7. |
No Gain | 1 & 7 - UK 7 (8:36 - 1st) D.Pierce rushed to KEN 7 for 0 yards. Tackled by KEN at KEN 7. |
+7 YD | 2 & 7 - UK 7 (8:07 - 1st) E.Jones pass complete to KEN 7. Catch made by J.Fraziars at KEN 7. Gain of 7 yards. J.Fraziars for 7 yards TOUCHDOWN. |
PAT Good | (7:57 - 1st) J.Christmann extra point is good. |
- Touchdown (5 plays, 75 yards, 2:38 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (7:57 - 1st) J.Christmann kicks 65 yards from FLA 35 to the KEN End Zone. Touchback. |
+15 YD | 1 & 10 - UK 25 (7:57 - 1st) W.Levis pass complete to KEN 25. Catch made by J.Ali at KEN 25. Gain of 15 yards. Tackled by FLA at KEN 40. |
+7 YD | 1 & 10 - UK 40 (7:26 - 1st) C.Rodriguez rushed to KEN 47 for 7 yards. Tackled by FLA at KEN 47. |
+4 YD | 2 & 3 - UK 47 (6:52 - 1st) C.Rodriguez rushed to FLA 49 for 4 yards. Tackled by FLA at FLA 49. |
+8 YD | 1 & 10 - FLA 49 (6:17 - 1st) W.Levis scrambles to FLA 41 for 8 yards. Tackled by FLA at FLA 41. |
+41 YD | 2 & 2 - FLA 41 (5:30 - 1st) W.Levis pass complete to FLA 41. Catch made by W.Robinson at FLA 41. Gain of 41 yards. W.Robinson for 41 yards TOUCHDOWN. |
PAT Good | (5:19 - 1st) M.Ruffolo extra point is good. |
- Punt (3 plays, 3 yards, 1:23 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (5:19 - 1st) C.Poore kicks 65 yards from KEN 35 to the FLA End Zone. Touchback. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - FLA 25 (5:19 - 1st) N.Wright rushed to FLA 27 for 2 yards. Tackled by KEN at FLA 27. |
No Gain | 2 & 8 - FLA 27 (4:47 - 1st) E.Jones steps back to pass. E.Jones pass incomplete intended for J.Copeland. |
Penalty | 3 & 8 - FLA 27 (4:42 - 1st) PENALTY on FLA-J.Delance False Start 5 yards accepted. No Play. |
+6 YD | 3 & 13 - FLA 22 (4:42 - 1st) E.Jones pass complete to FLA 22. Catch made by J.Shorter at FLA 22. Gain of 6 yards. Tackled by KEN at FLA 28. |
Punt | 4 & 7 - FLA 28 (4:07 - 1st) J.Crawshaw punts 56 yards to KEN 16 Center-FLA. J.Ali returned punt from the KEN 16. Tackled by FLA at KEN 22. |
- Punt (7 plays, 25 yards, 3:49 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+5 YD | 1 & 10 - UK 22 (3:56 - 1st) C.Rodriguez rushed to KEN 27 for 5 yards. Tackled by FLA at KEN 27. |
+8 YD | 2 & 5 - UK 27 (3:24 - 1st) C.Rodriguez rushed to KEN 35 for 8 yards. Tackled by FLA at KEN 35. |
+7 YD | 1 & 10 - UK 35 (2:47 - 1st) W.Levis scrambles to KEN 42 for 7 yards. Tackled by FLA at KEN 42. |
+8 YD | 2 & 3 - UK 42 (2:04 - 1st) C.Rodriguez rushed to FLA 50 for 8 yards. Tackled by FLA at FLA 50. |
+1 YD | 1 & 10 - UK 50 (1:35 - 1st) K.Smoke rushed to FLA 49 for 1 yards. Tackled by FLA at FLA 49. |
No Gain | 2 & 9 - FLA 49 (0:54 - 1st) W.Levis steps back to pass. W.Levis pass incomplete intended for K.Smoke. |
-4 YD | 3 & 9 - FLA 49 (0:49 - 1st) W.Levis pass complete to FLA 49. Catch made by J.McClain at FLA 49. Gain of -4 yards. Tackled by FLA at KEN 47. |
Punt | 4 & 13 - UK 47 (0:15 - 1st) C.Goodfellow punts 41 yards to FLA 12 Center-KEN. Fair catch by X.Henderson. |