By MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Chris Leak threw four touchdown passes, all in the first half, and DeShawn Wynn scored four touchdowns as No. 5 Florida got its offense rolling in a 49-28 victory over Kentucky on Saturday.
After a blocked punt led to an early Kentucky touchdown, Florida (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) scored on seven straight possessions and led 49-7 at halftime. Leak, who made his first collegiate start two years ago at Kentucky, was 25-of-32 for 319 yards.
Coach Urban Meyer’s spread-option offense looked far more potent against the lowly Wildcats than it did scoring just one touchdown in a gritty win over Tennessee last week.
Meyer hasn’t been thrilled with Leak and Co. all season, but they gave him a lot to like against Kentucky.
Leak’s first touchdown pass, a 16-yarder, went to Wynn, who also scored on three short runs. Wynn became the first player in Florida history to record two four-touchdown games, having also accomplished the feat in a 2003 win over Florida A&M.
Florida’s win was its 19th straight over the Wildcats (1-3, 0-1), a run that has included lopsided results like 73-17, 42-7, 65-0 and 44-10.
The Gators seemed on their way to another resounding rout, but led by backup quarterback Curtis Pulley, Kentucky – which hasn’t won a SEC opener since 1987 – scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the final result appear more respectable.
Florida recorded season highs in points and total offense (537 yards). Defensively, the Gators entered the game allowing an average of 199 yards, second-best in Division I-A. They gave up 295 to Kentucky while forcing four turnovers. All but 69 of those yards came in the second half, though, after the game had been decided.
Kentucky’s Jacob Tamme blocked a Florida punt on the Gators’ first possession, giving the Wildcats prime field position at the Florida 18. Rafael Little scored on a 1-yard run less than three minutes into the game, giving Kentucky an unexpected lead.
But Leak continually dissected the Kentucky defense, connecting most often with Chad Jackson (nine catches for 105 yards, including touchdowns of 11 and 6 yards) and Jemalle Cornelius (eight catches for 138 yards). Leak’s other touchdown pass went for 16 yards to Dallas Baker.
The 300-yard passing game was the sixth of Leak’s career. He exited the game early in the third quarter, along with most of Florida’s starters, but they returned with 6:49 left after Kentucky had rallied within 49-28.
Florida rolled up 437 yards of offense in the first half, including 250 in a 35-point second quarter. Meanwhile, Kentucky didn’t record its second first down until less than five minutes remained in the second quarter and committed three turnovers.
Florida linebacker Earl Everett set up touchdowns with his first two career interceptions, which also were the first two interceptions thrown this season by Andre Woodson.
On its first second-half possession, Kentucky scored on a 5-yard reverse by receiver Glenn Holt, and the Wildcats added fourth-quarter scores on runs of 2 and 18 yards by the freshman Pulley.
