Streak Over! Cats Top Gators 27-16 in Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Benny Snell, Jr. rushed for 175 yards as Kentucky ended a 31-year losing streak against Florida, topping the Gators 27-16 on Saturday night in Gainesville.
Quarterback Terry Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also rushing for 105 yards and a score.
The win was Kentucky’s first over Florida since 1986, and the Cats’ first win in Gainesville since 1979.
After the Kentucky defense forced Florida to punt on the opening possession of the game, the Wildcats got on the board. The Cats covered 91 yards in nine plays, capped by a 29-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to David Bouvier. Miles Butler nailed the point after and Kentucky led 7-0 with 5:07 left in the first quarter.
Florida answered with a scoring drive of its own, but the UK defense kept the Gators out of the end zone. Florida was on the UK three-yard line, but a sack by Phil Hoskins and a third-down stop forced the Gators to attempt a 29-yard field goal, which Evan McPherson converted, cutting the UK lead to 7-3.
After Kentucky was forced to punt, Florida went 63 yards in just four plays, scoring on an 18-yard pass from Feleipe Franks to Moral Stephens, giving the Gators a 10-7 lead.
Kentucky would get into Florida territory twice more in the first half, but both drives ended in turnovers. The Cats defense would hold on both occasions, and the Gators held a 10-7 halftime lead.
The Cats took the second-half kickoff and put together an impressive scoring drive. Leaning on Snell, Kentucky drove 90 yards in 10 plays, with Snell covering 36 of those yards. Wilson had a pair of big plays in the drive, with a 19-yard run on third down, and the drive capper, a 24-yard designed run for a touchdown. Butler’s PAT was good and Kentucky led 14-10 with 9:49 left in the third quarter.
After a Florida punt, Kentucky struck again. This time, the Cats went 78 yards in just five plays, with Wilson connecting with Lynn Bowden, Jr. for a 54-yard touchdown. The PAT was good and Kentucky led 21-10 with 4:11 left in the third quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Franks hit Freddie Swain with a touchdown pass to cut Kentucky’s lead to 21-16, after a two-point conversion failed.
The scoring ended when Davonte Robinson recovered a fumble and returned it 30 yards for a score on the game’s final play.
