Gators’ Del Rio makes most of unexpected chance

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Watching from the sideline at Kentucky, UF quarterback Luke Del Rio did not know whether his chance would come again.

For many Gators out on the field, college football careers were just the beginning.

Differing perspectives, levels of potential and future possibilities came together when Kentucky led by 13 points with 11 minutes remaining Saturday night. A young team rallied around Del Rio, a 22-year-old redshirt junior, and produced another dramatic win — a 28-27 victory against the .stunned Wildcats.

“A lot of teams when they get down big like that and they’re younger, like we are, they kind of shut down, they kind of pack their bags and say, ‘ OK, well, we lost. We’ll just get the next one,’ ” Del Rio said. “This team fights.”

Del Rio embodies the determination the Gators (2-1, 2-0 SEC) have displayed during back-toback wins in the final minute.

Plagued by injuries and written off by most, Del Rio appeared destined to close his football career holding a clipboard.

But after three consecutive incomplete passes and a sack by Feleipe Franks, coaches turned to Del Rio with 5:54 left in the third quarter and UF trailing Kentucky 24-14.

“We just felt we needed a jump-start,” coach Jim McElwain said.

Following two quick first