Live Updates: No. 20 Kentucky at No. 12 Florida
Kentucky and Florida are set to square off in what is the biggest SEC matchup of the season thus far. The 20th-ranked Wildcats closed as 5.5-point underdogs on the road against the No. 12 Gators. Wildcats Today will have live updates from a sold-out Swamp at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium available in this thread:
FINAL: Kentucky 26, Florida 16
Fourth Quarter:
Florida Drive 14 (1:17): Richardson's pass is almost picked by Valentine on first down. Florida is stopped on third down, fourth and seven coming up. Richardson's pass is tipped but caught by Henderson, moving the chains. Florida unable to score as the clock runs out.
Kentucky Drive 12: Kentucky gets a huge 11-yard run to get to first and goal from Kavosiey Smoke. On second and goal, Kenneth Horsey is called for a false start, moving UK back to the 10. Wright carries for two, making it 3rd and 8. Levis keeps it up the middle for a few, setting up the Ruffolo kick. The chip-shot is good.
Florida Drive 13 (6:13): Starting at its own 20, Florida gets denied three times, goes for it on fourth down, but Richardson's pass is incomplete. Kentucky takes over at the Florida 24.
Kentucky Drive 11 (8:36): Smoke hits the left edge for 18 yards, UK bordering the redzone. Following a rush and incompletion, Wright dashes for a few yards but is short of the first. Ruffolo's kick is NO-GOOD.
Florida Drive 12: (11:05) Richardson completes a 13-yard pass to Keon Zipperer, Florida across its own 30. Etienne rushes twice for seven yards, setting up 4th and 3, UF staying on the field...Kentucky calls timeout. UF do go for it, but Valentine breaks up the pass.
Kentucky Drive 10 Con't: Levis finds Magwood for a big 3rd down conversion of 22 yards. Wright follows up with nine more, then another first down carry for eight. Kentucky across the 50, Tayvion Robinson finally gets his first catch of the night, but for no gain. On third down, Levis fires into triple coverage, incomplete, Kentucky punts away into the endzone.
Third Quarter:
Kentucky Drive 10: (1:27) UK opens at its own 15. Robinson gets two on a jet sweep, followed by a run up the middle by Smoke. END OF Q3.
Florida Drive 11 (3:25): Montrell Johnson opens the drive with a 13-yard run. Following a pair of small gains, Richardson throws behind his receiver, forcing a UF punt.
Florida Drive 10 (6:35): Florida opens at its own 25. Tyrell Aijan with a big hit on Richardson on first down. On 3rd and 4, Richardson completes a dart to Pearsall for 15 yards near midfield. Now across the 50, Nay'Qaun Wright converts a 3rd and 3 with an 8-yard carry to the left. PICK SIX: Keidron Smith jumps a Richardson pass, taking it 65 yards back to the house. The PAT is good, Kentucky leads by seven.
Kentucky Drive Nine: Smoke gets his best run of the game for 13 yards. Unbelievable break for the Wildcats, as a pass to DeMarcus Harris slips through his hands, but falls to Chauncey Magwood for a 29-yard gain. Kentucky approaching the redzone. Levis' next pass to Magwood falls incomplete. Smoke busts a run out to the right for 13 more yards, now at the UF 13. La'Vell Wright follows up with a five-yard rush, setting up another Wright rush for two more. UK is stuffed on 3rd and short, setting up a 24-yard FG by Matt Ruffolo that splits the uprights, tying the game.
Florida Drive Nine: Florida goes three-and-out as well. Jordan Wright is credited with a sack on third down.
Kentucky Drive Eight: Kentucky goes three-and-out to begin the half. Levis still unable to get any time in the pocket.
Second Quarter
Florida Drive Eight (1:25): The Gators take it to halftime.
Kentucky Drive Seven (2:47): Smoke rushes from the UF 6-yard line for one yard on first down. Levis is hit as he throws on second down, chucking it past the endzone. Flag on the play, roughing the passer on Trey Dean. Kentucky now first and goal at the Florida 2, Wright gets one yard but can't cross the goal line. Florida calls its final timeout. Levis gets the score on a QB sneak, PAT is muffed, UK can't convert. 16-13 Florida.
Florida Drive Seven (4:12) : Holding on the return for Florida. On 3rd and 3, Jordan Wright snatches a Richardson pass in the backfield, taking it to the redzone for the Wildcats.
Kentucky Drive Six: UK starts at its own 35. Following two small gains, Levis misses Key on a deep ball. Kentucky to punt. The punt is snapped over the head of Goodfellow, who kicks it out of the endzone for a safety.
Florida Drive Six: Starting at the UK 34, Florida runs twice for six yards. Etienne sneaks through a gap on third down for 15 yards, UF now in the redzone. Etienne punches in a touchdown from 11 yards out. Florida retakes the lead. The Gators go for two, and Richardson passes to Etienne for the conversion. UF now up 7.
Kentucky Drive Five (10:01) Kentucky begins at its own 25-yard line. On first down, Levis heaves an incompletion after another QB hurry. On third down, Levis finds Key for 12 yards and a first down. INTERCEPTION: Levis is stripped as he goes to pass, Florida's Gervon Dexter catches the ball for a pick. Florida now in UK territory.
Florida Drive Five (11:36): Montrell Johnson Jr busts a huge run on the first play of the drive for 40 yards. Florida now at the UK 33. After two rushes, Octavious Oxendine hurries Richardson into an incompletion to force a UF field goal attempt. From 50 yards out, Mihalek drills it.
Kentucky Drive Four (12:25): Levis rolls out and hits Upshaw for a 12-yard gain on first down. At their own 45, Levis launches a bomb that is caught in the endzone by Dane Key for a touchdown. The play is reviewed but stands.
Florida Drive Four (14:44): Florida at its own 25. Richardson overthrows Shorter on a deep ball, Shorter had Valentine beat downfield. AR's accuracy has cost the Gators a couple of scores already tonight. 3rd and 10, Richardson finds Shorter who moves the chains just barely. Jalen Geiger is down for Kentucky after a blindside block. Geiger was carted off the field. After an incompletion, Richardson airmails Pearsall...3rd and 25 for UF. Florida punts away.
Kentucky Drive Three Con't: Levis is pressured once again, he gets the ball out, but UK will have to punt. Florida calls a timeout before the punt. The punt is nearly blocked but Goodfellow gets it away.
First Quarter
Kentucky Drive Three (2:47): Kentucky starts at its own 9-yard line. Smoke gets three yards on first down. Dane Key gets his first catch of the day, for 16 yards. Levis finds Keaton Upshaw on a slant for a huge gain for 22 yards to midfield. Injury timeout for UF's Rashad Torrence. Levis rolls out on the next play but is sacked by Amari Burney for a loss of 10. Wright catches a pass for no gain to end the first quarter.
Florida Drive Three (4:33): The Gators begin at their own 10-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Richardson hits Xzavier Henderson, who beat Keidron Smith and Jordan Wright, for 28 yards. Trevor Etienne runs for five yards on second down, Richardson's third-down pass is dropped by Henderson at midfield.
Kentucky Drive Two (10:03): Levis hits Jordan Dingle for a 19-yard completion. Levis rolls out on the next play, hits Brendan bates for 11 more, Kentucky across midfield. Back-to-back WR runs from Robinson and Brown, 3rd and 5 coming up. Levis finds Dingle again for a first, UK approaching the UF 30-yard line. First carry of the game for La'Vell Wright, no gain. Justus Boone smothers Will Levis in the backfield, but is called for targeting. Huge hit on the UK QB, who seems to be okay. The targeting call is overturned. Levis' helmet came off, so he comes out for Deuce Hogan. UK surrenders with a run play, Goodfellow on to punt, which goes 32 yards.
Florida Drive Two (11:42): Florida takes over at its own 48. Richardson hits a wide-open Ricky Pearsall for a big gain. Florida is attacking Carrington Valentine early. Jacquez Jones with a big tackle on third down to force a field goal attempt. Florida kicker Adam Mihalek nails a 39-yarder for the first points of the day.
Kentucky Drive One: Kentucky opens on its own 16-yard line. Smoke gets one yard on the first offensive play of the game. Levis tries to run up the middle on second but is caught up by his own O-line. The Cats try a screen on 3rd and long to Barion Brown, nothing doing. Three-and-out for UK.
Florida Drive One: Florida returns the opening kick to the 18-yard line. Nay'Qaun Wright carries the first play of the game for five yards. Richardson's first pass of the game is complete to Justin Shorter for 16 yards. Richardson with two overthrows, Florida punts away to UK.
Pre-Game
Kentucky wins the toss, defers to the second half.
Kentucky is still without star running back Chris Rodriguez, as well as backup RB's Ramon Jefferson and JuTahn McClain. Kavosiey Smoke remains the starter in the backfield, while La'Vell Wright takes over as the primary backup.
Outside linebacker Jordan Wright was cleared to play on Thursday and will play against the Gators.
Kentucky's entire injury and unavailability report can be found here.
Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.
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