Gators’ rally prolongs mastery over Wildcats
NO. 20 FLORIDA 28, KENTUCKY 27
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Freddie Swain caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Luke Del Rio with 43 seconds remaining to cap No. 20 Florida’s rally from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Kentucky 28-27 on Saturday night.
The Gators extended their winning streak over the Wildcats to 31 games, the nation’s longest streak in FBS, and took early control of the SEC’s Eastern Division. It came a week after a last-second, 63-yard Hail Mary TD pass earned a 26-20 victory over Tennessee, and this comeback required everything they had after trailing most of the night.
“Well, that was fun,” Florida Coach Jim McElwain said of his team’s escape. “You could feel it on the sideline that they didn’t have any quit in them.”
Down 27-14 in the fourth quarter, Florida (2-1, 2-0 SEC) got within a touchdown on Brandon Powell’s 6-yard TD run with 7:58 left. Del Rio then marched the Gators 58 yards for the winning score to stun a blue-clad sellout crowd of 61,000 hungry to see Kentucky (3-1, 1-1) end a generation of frustration against the Gators.
Kentucky’s last chance to win ended when Austin MacGinnis’ 57-yard field goal fell short as time expired.
Del Rio, who relieved Feleipe Franks in the second half, completed 9 of 14 passes for 74 yards.
“I just tried to settle down as best I could, move the ball, which was encouraging,” said Del Rio, who led Florida’s 45-7 rout of Kentucky last year in Gainesville. “The pick was just a miscommunication on my part. I knew we could move the ball better.”
Kadarius Toney rushed for a 36-yard TD and Tyrie Cleveland
caught a 45-yard TD pass from Franks for a 14-14 tie at halftime.