Florida Gators fall to Kentucky, 33-14
The Florida Gators’ road woes continued Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Ky.
Outplayed in every phase from the outset, Florida fell behind by 23 points during a disastrous opening quarter and a half and never recovered.
Final score: Kentucky 33, No. 22 Florida 14.
Florida (3-2 overall, 1-1 in the SEC) now is 0-2 away from home this season. The Gators also lost badly at Utah in Week 1. Dating back to last season, Florida is 1-5 in road games under second-year coach Billy Napier.
The Gators entered Saturday’s game with their first three-game winning streak in three years but were out of sorts early. Passes were overthrown on offense. Tackles were missed on defense. And the Gators struggled badly in the trenches and at the point of attack on both sides of the ball.
Kentucky (5-0, 2-0) running back Ray Davis torched the Gators in the first half and finished with 280 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. That included a 75-yard first-quarter touchdown run that put the Wildcats ahead 16-0 in the second quarter.
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All told, Kentucky rushed for 329 yards on only 36 carries against a Florida defense that entered the game No. 5 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC in yards allowed at 244.8 per game. The ‘Cats had 259 yards in the first half alone and finished with 398 in the game.
Gators quarterback Graham Mertz missed a couple open receivers early and it was costly as the Florida offense managed fewer than 50 yards in the first quarter. Only a lengthy drive late in the second quarter kept the Gators from being blanked in the opening half.
After falling behind by 23 again — this time in the third quarter — Mertz found receiver Ricky Pearsall for a 33-yard touchdown strike to make it a two-score game. But Florida couldn’t get any closer.
Mertz finished 25-of-30 passing for 244 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Florida rushed for only 69 yards.
Game Notes
- Florida now is 22-12 vs. Kentucky on the road. The Gators lead the all-time series 53-21 despite losing three straight times to the ‘Cats.
- The Gators have dropped two straight to Kentucky in Lexington after having won 16 in a row there.
- Napier was going for his 50th career victory Saturday.
