I have sat here and stared at a blank word document for the last two hours, not sure what to write after one of the most gut-wrenching losses in UK history and by far the lowest point of my media career. The fans brought it and so did the players. However, a couple of mistakes proved to be costly, resulting in a 28-27 loss.
Ask anyone that understands the game of football and they will tell you that Kentucky was and is the better team in 2017. Yet, the better team doesn’t always win and tonight is the perfect example.
Kentucky had so many opportunities to take complete control and not only end a 30-year losing streak but do it in convincing fashion. Prior to the half, the Wildcats held a 14-7 advantage with Florida facing a 4th and 3 at the Kentucky 45-yard line. Somehow, still unsure of a reasonable explanation, a Florida receiver was left uncovered in front of the UK sideline. Feleipe Franks connected with Tyrie Cleveland for a 45-yard touchdown to set the halftime score at, 14-14.
The Wildcats regrouped at the half and played one of the best quarters I have seen a UK football team play, outscoring the Gators 10-0 in the 3rd. However, Florida found life and scored 14 unanswered points on their final two drives of the night to extend the streak to 31 consecutive years.
For most of the game, the Wildcat offense had the Gator defense completely off balance and Kentucky was well on their way to a program-changing victory. That is when things began to change and you could feel it happening. Trailing 27-14 with 11:27 remaining, the Florida offense found some life.
Florida was struggling to move the ball until a wide receiver pass by Brandon Powell resulted in a 50-yard completion to Tyrie Cleveland. The big play set the Gators up at the UK 30-yard line, where six plays later, Powell found the end zone on a 6-yard run. The touchdown cut the Kentucky lead to, 27-21. The scoring drive for Florida was 7 plays, 80 yards, taking 3:29 off the clock.
Holding onto a six-point lead, the UK offense did exactly what it couldn’t afford to do, which was played conservative. The offense went three out on a Stephen Johnson two-yard rush, a sack, and an incomplete pass to Tavin Richardson. Matt Panton’s punt was downed at the Florida 42-yard line, where the Gators began the game-winning drive.
The final drive for Florida was a long, 13-play drive. The Gators converted on two 4th downs to extend the drive, capped off by another miscommunication by the UK defense. Facing a 3rd and 1 from the UK 5-yard line, Del Rio found Freddie Swain for a 5-yard touchdown to give the Gators a 28-27 advantage. The miscommunication was the second of the game, both resulting in an uncovered receiver finding the end zone.
Despite the defensive breakdowns, Kentucky still had a chance to win the game. The Wildcat offense took over at their 25-yard line and moved the ball to the 49-yard line on one snap. Stephen Johnson found Garrett Johnson for an 11-yard completion and a roughing the passer penalty tacked on 15 more yards, setting up the Wildcats on their 49-yard line.
With the ball on their 49-yard line, the UK offense needed roughly 15 yards to set up Austin MacGinnis for a game-winning field goal attempt. The next three plays were an incompletion, incompletion, and a completion for no gain, setting up a 4th and 10 with 21 seconds on the clock. Johnson kept the UK drive alive with a 14-yard completion to Charles Walker. Two plays later, the Wildcats appeared to have positioned themselves for a victory.
On 2nd and 10 from the Florida 35-yard line, Benny Snell carried the ball to the 25-yard line. However, a ten-yard holding penalty was called on Nick Haynes, backing the Wildcats to their own 45-yard line with 6 seconds remaining. Because the offensive penalty took place with less than 10 seconds remaining, Stoops was forced to take his final timeout to prevent a run off of the clock.
Facing 2nd and 20 from the 45-yard line, Johnson hit Walker, who stepped out of bounds to stop the clock around the 39-yard line. On came Austin MacGinnis to attempt his third game-winning field goal of his career, a 57-yard attempt. The UK kicker said earlier this week that type of distance was within his range. However, the kick came up a few yards short and Florida escaped with their 31st straight victory versus Kentucky.
Kentucky moves to 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the SEC, while Florida improves to 2-1, 2-0 in the SEC. The Wildcats step out of conference play next week, as they host Eastern Michigan at Kroger Field. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. ET and will be available on the SEC Network.
