Sept. 11, 2014
For the first time since 2010 the University of Kentucky football team begins Southeastern Conference play unbeaten as the Wildcats travel to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend to take on the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET.
 
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| Kentucky at Florida | ||
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| Sat., Sept. 13 – 7:00 p.m. ET Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, Fla. Game Notes: UK  | UF |
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| Coverage | ||
| TV: SEC Network Radio: UK Sports Network Live Video via SEC Network+ Live Audio Live Stats Text Updates |
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| UK | 2014 Team Stats | UF |
| 39.5 | Scoring/game | 65.0 |
| 24.0 | First downs/game | 27.0 |
| 529.0 | Total offense/game | 655.0 |
| 233.0 | Rushing yards/game | 259.0 |
| 296.0 | Passing yards/game | 396.0 |
| 25.0 | Kickoff returns (avg) | 0.0 |
| 8.8 | Punt returns (avg) | 19.6 |
| 45.0 | Punting (avg) | 48.3 |
| 31:04 | Time of possession/game | 35:43 |
| 50.0 | Third down conversion | 50.0 |
| 50.0 | Fourth down conversion | 50.0 |
| +6 | Turnover margin | +5 |
| 8.5 | Points allowed/game | 0.0 |
| 310.5 | Total yards allowed/game | 125.0 |
| 128.5 | Rush yards allowed/game | 80.0 |
| 182.0 | Pass yards allowed/game | 45.0 |
UK is coming off a 20-3 victory over Ohio, who has advanced to five consecutive bowl games. The Wildcat defense was impressive in the game, allowing only three points and limiting Ohio to just 74 yards rushing. The UK defense posted a first-half shutout for the second straight week, marking the first time a UK defense had accomplished that feat since 1988.
The Kentucky offense continues its strong start to the season against Ohio, posting 17 first-half points. UK has outscored its opponents by 62 points to start the season, marking its largest scoring margin through two games since a 76-point margin in 2007.
Cat Scratches: UK looks to ‘put it all together’ at Florida
Quick starts, two games in, have become habit for Kentucky.
The Wildcats outscored UT Martin and Ohio by a combined tally of 52-0 in the first half, shutting out back-to-back opponents before halftime for the first time in 26 years.
Repeating the feat against an opponent UK hasn’t beaten in even longer is a tall order. That doesn’t mean the Cats won’t give it a shot against Florida.
“I think it will be very challenging to jump out in front of them like we did the first two (games),” Mark Stoops said. “But that’s what we’re going to try to do.” … read the full preview
Scouting Florida
After its season opener was cancelled because of inclement weather, Florida won its first game of the 2014 season in impressive fashion last Saturday, taking down Eastern Michigan 65-0 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Florida offense piled up 655 yards of total offense in the game, including 259 rushing and 396 passing. Florida’s 65 points was the scored in head coach Will Muschamp’s tenure and the most since posting 70 in its 2008 national championship season.
Offensively, Florida was paced by junior quarterback Jeff Driskel, who completed 31-of-45 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore running back Kelvin Taylor led the way on the ground with eight rushes for 68 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Matt Jones rushed eight times for 65 yards and a touchdown. True freshman running back Brandon Powell rushed three times for a touchdown. Through the air, senior tight end Clay Burton caught seven passes for 42 yards, while sophomore wide receiver Demarcus Robinson had six catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. Jones had two catches, including one for a touchdown, while junior running back Mark Herndon caught a 78-yard touchdown pass.
The Gator defense was also impressive, limiting Eastern Michigan to 125 yards of total offense, including just 45 through the air in the shutout effort. Senior linebacker Neiron Ball paced the team with six tackles in the game, including 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one quarterback hurry. Senior linebacker Michael Taylor also had six tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, while 10 Gators recorded tackles for loss in the game. Sophomore defensive lineman Alex McCalister had three tackles and one sack in the game, while seven Gators recorded quarterback hurries. In the secondary, freshman Duke Dawson had an interception, while Vernon Hargreaves, III had the team’s lone pass breakup. All totaled, Florida recovered four fumbles.
On special teams, senior Andre Debose returned four punts for an average of 24.2 yards, while the Gators did not return a kickoff. Kyle Christy punted three times in the game for an average of 48.3 yards.
