THE QUICK SLANT
KENTUCKY 27, No. 25 FLORIDA 16
WHAT HAPPENED: Kentucky quarterback
Terry Wilson passed for two touchdowns and ran for another and the Wildcats trampled the Florida defense for 451 total yards and 303 rushing in putting an end to the longest active series winning streak in college football before a stunned and bummed crowd Saturday night at Spurrier/Florida Field. Wilson had a 29-yard touchdown pass on the first possession of the game, a 24-yard scoring run on the opening drive of the second half, and a 54-yard dagger on third-and-16 in the third quarter that opened an 11-point lead. UK tailback
Benny Snell finished with 175 yards on the ground. The Gators, meanwhile, had virtually no running game to speak of (29 carries, 128 yards) and relied almost exclusively on sophomore quarterback
Feleipe Franks. A week after throwing five touchdowns in the first half in a season-opening win over Charleston Southern, Franks found the goings much tougher against an SEC foe; even one the Gators had defeated annually since 1987. Franks finished 17 of 38 for a career-high 232 yards, two touchdowns and two turnovers. He also was the team's leading rusher (11 carries, 44 yards). His second touchdown toss came with 3:43 to play and drew the Gators within a possession (the two-point conversion attempt was no good). UF got the ball back at its own 6 with 29 seconds remaining, but Franks was hit by defensive end
Josh Allen and fumbled, as UK safety
Davonte Robinson returned the play for 30 yards for a score as time expired.
WHAT IT MEANS: For the Gators, their first loss to the Wildcats since 1986 puts them in an early hole in the SEC East Division, but more than that it halts what not only was the longest active winning streak in Division I, but the fourth-longest in college football history -- and basically a way of life for more than a generation of Florida fans. No more Kentucky jokes, folks. Get ready to hear about this one from Lexington and beyond.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Wilson, who was banged up and benched in last week's 35-20 home win over Central Michigan after a couple interceptions, was undeterred by two turnovers (one fumble, one pick, both in the first half, both deep in UF territory), as he passed for 151 yards and rush for another 105. He gave the Gators fits all night with his legs (like a 19-yard scramble from his end zone on third-and-7 early in the third quarter) and hit the big passes when he needed to.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Take your pick. The end of a 31-game streak first comes to mind, but Kentucky's 7.4 yards per rush and converting eight of its first nine third-down opportunities (including the 54-yard score) made it all possible.
UP NEXT: Florida (1-1, 0-1) will have to wait two weeks before getting another crack at an SEC opponent. The Gators step out of conference play again next Saturday with a 4 p.m. home date against Colorado State (1-2). The Rams will play a second straight SEC opponent, having upset visiting Arkansas 34-27 Saturday night, coming from 18 behind in the second half. The UF-CSU game, and its $2 million payout, was arranged as part of the buyout negotiations that brought
Jim McElwain from Fort Collins to Gainesville in December 2014.
