No. 11 Kentucky had plenty at stake when 5-4 Florida came to town. The Wildcats were chasing a College Football Playoff spot, but the Gators were a more dangerous opponent than their record suggested: they’d already upset Ole Miss and Texas this season.
Florida had been uneven, to put it mildly, and a win over Kentucky offered a chance to spoil the Wildcats’ plans and get its own season moving again.
Before kickoff, though, Kentucky put on a drone show. I’m still convinced drones beat fireworks, for what it’s worth.
Scoring took a while. With less than two minutes left in the first quarter, Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey found running back CJ Baxter for the game’s first touchdown.
Florida finally got on the board in the second quarter, though not in the usual way. An offensive holding penalty in the end zone gave the Gators a safety, making it 7-2. They went into halftime down by just five, which was probably a relief.
Then Florida took its first lead in weeks. Running back Jadan Baugh powered into the end zone in the third quarter, putting the Gators ahead.
Kentucky answered with a one-yard touchdown run by Minchey. Florida added a field goal, and the Wildcats led 14-13 heading into the fourth.
Quarterback Aaron Philo then guided Florida on a sharp 14-play drive, finishing it himself with a touchdown run. Coach Jon Sumrall chose to go for two, and Philo’s pass to a wide-open Dallas Wilson made it 21-14.
There was still time for some late tension. Florida went for it on fourth-and-one just past midfield, knowing a first down would end the game with Kentucky out of timeouts. The Wildcats’ defense stopped the Gators inches short.
Kentucky got one last chance, but Minchey threw three incomplete passes. The Wildcats stayed on the field for fourth-and-10, but couldn’t turn the opportunity into a comeback.
Florida has been a feast-or-famine team this year. The win was its third upset of a ranked opponent, yet the Gators are still only 6-4. Quite a season of swings.
The loss deals a serious blow to Kentucky’s playoff hopes. The Wildcats visit Missouri next week, while Florida returns to the Swamp to face Vanderbilt.
