Photo: Kansascity.com
Kentucky went into the Swamp and played the best game I’ve seen a Kentucky team play in the last 5 or 6 seasons. Nobody expected UK to compete with Florida last night, everyone expected a blowout. Well Kentucky not only competed, but was one non call away from pulling off the upset and ending a long losing streak.
*The Good*
* Mark Stoops and his coaching staff had a great game plan and nearly executed it perfectly.
* Patrick Towles showed why he won the starting quarterback job. This being only his third career start and first road start, Patrick was poised and played like a seasoned veteran. Towles finished the game 24-45 for 369 yards 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. You can’t blame Patrick for all three picks, because two of those passes hit Kentucky receivers in the hands and bounced into the hands of a Florida defender. Towles is the first UK quarterback to pass for 300+ yards in an SEC game since Mike Hartline in 2010 vs. Georgia.
* Garrett Johnson was the go to receiver last night. Johnson finished with six catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
* Landon Foster punted the ball six times for 39.8 yards, with five of his six punts pinning Florida inside the 20-yard line.
* Za’Darius Smith played his best game as a Wildcat. Smith finished with a career-high 11 tackles, one pass break-up and half a tackle for loss.
* Bud Dupree finished with five tackles and two quarterback hurries.
* Josh Forrest had another great game finishing with a career-high 10 tackles.
* Stanley “Boom” Williams 5-yard catch and run for a TD to open overtime.
* Fred Tiller had a career-high and 11 tackles.
*The Bad*
* Kentucky’s defense allowing wide receiver DeMarcus Robinson to catch 25 passes for 216 yards and two scores and giving up 532 yards of total offense.
* Florida ran 94 offensive plays, Kentucky ran 78. Florida had the ball for nearly 49 minutes (48:39), Kentucky had the ball a little over 26 minutes (26:21). Kentucky’s defense was exhausted from being on the field so long.
*The Ugly*
* The delay of game penalty that should have been called on Florida in the first overtime. Florida had the ball 4th and 7 on the 10 yard line. A penalty there would have made it 4th and 12. I would suggest putting a buzzer on the play clock like they have on the shot clock in basketball.
Kentucky has a bye week this week and returns to action on Sept. 27, playing host to Vanderbilt at Commonwealth Stadium. After a the performance Kentucky showed against Florida, the BBN needs to pack CWS.
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