At the Half: Florida leads Kentucky 27-13

After a wild 30 minutes of play, the Florida Gators lead your University of Kentucky Wildcats 27-13. It looked like the Cats were on the verge of disaster but a huge play by Barion Brown may keep them within striking distance.

Big plays by Alex Afari and Deone Walker turned what could have been a Florida touchdown to start the game into a field goal. Kentucky’s defense stepped up again on Florida’s third drive, with Jordan Lovett and JJ Weaver taking down Jadan Baugh on 3rd and two at the Kentucky 14-yard line to force the Gators to kick another field goal to make it 6-0.

Kentucky’s offense finally came alive on the next drive. Brock Vandagriff ran for a first down on the first play, which was followed up with a Jamarion Wilcox 25-yard run (which, hilariously, ended with Wilcox’s shoe falling off). After a Barion Brown three-yard run, the Cats got the explosive play they needed. Brock Vandagriff found Brown in the end zone on a beautiful 45-yard flea flicker to tie the score.

FLEA FLICKER FINDS PAY DIRT 🙌@UKFootball x 📺 @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/by1zVtuv91

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) October 20, 2024

Just when you were feeling good about things, Alex Raynor missed the extra point. What is going on with the special teams?

Kentucky’s defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive but the offense could not capitalize. Chip Trayanum got his first carry as a Cat, an eight-yard gain to make it 3rd and 1. Instead of giving it to a running back, the Cats went with a quarterback sneak and Brock Vandagriff ran into a wall. Florida didn’t waste any time on the next drive, covering 65 yards in 1:10 thanks to a 50-yard pass by DJ Lagway to set Baugh up for a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 13-6 Gators.

It looked like things were going to go from bad to worse on the next drive when Vandagriff’s pass was tipped and intercepted but when the Gators took over, Kristian Story got a pick of his own, returning the ball 63 yards to the Florida 11-yard line.

.@only1kstory took the ball and turned on the jets. pic.twitter.com/99RZIOu5Us

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 20, 2024

Kentucky elected to go for it on 4th and 1 at the two-yard line and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye could not convert, turning the ball over on downs. Instead of stuffing the Gators, the defense allowed back-to-back chunk plays, a 27-yard run by Baugh from the two-yard line and a 58-yard pass by Lagway to the Kentucky 13-yard line. Two plays later, Baugh scored to make it 20-6 Gators.

On the first play of Kentucky’s next drive, Barion Brown dropped a pass that was picked off by the Gators, who quickly scored. Brown redeemed himself on the kickoff, returning it 99 yards for a touchdown, his fifth career kickoff return TD.

Barion Brown took it 99 yards to the HOUSE 🏠 😼 pic.twitter.com/a8jFZ21sgT

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 20, 2024

Thankfully, the fireworks ended there. With 30 minutes to go, the Cats still have a shot, but there’s a lot to clean up. Kentucky’s defense has allowed 313 yards of total offense thus far, well above their game average of 251.5. The offense has only totaled 157 yards and six first downs to Florida’s 11. Brock Vandagriff is 3-9 for 58 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Here’s to a better second half.

Kentucky vs. Florida 1st Half Box Score