Florida started with the football, and with the Gators traditional 1st quarter dominance over the Wildcats, one would think they would drive down and store right off the bat. The Kentucky defense thought differently as they stopped Florida for negative gain and caused a 3 and out.
The big surprise on the opening drive for the Kentucky Wildcats was senior Morgan Newton started at quarterback. The bigger surprise was he moved the offense for 2 first downs, including a 25 pass to Jonathan George. The drive ended going for it on 4th and 4, but Kentucky showed they could possibly move the football on the Florida defense.
The Gators and Wildcats swapped unsuccessful drives, but Florida finally got something going after quarterback Jeff Driskel ran for 38 yards and a facemask penalty by Ashley Lowery was added on to put the Gators inside the 10.
Florida could not punch it in after being first and goal from the 3 and had to settle for a 27 yard field goal to lead Kentucky 3-0 with 5:18 left in the 1st quarter.
Kentucky’s next drive started on the 25 yard line and Morgan Newton came back out in the shotgun for the Wildcats. He proceeded to go down the field for DeMarcus Sweat but overthrew him by a couple of yards. After another incompletion, Jonathan George goes up the gut for a 12 yard run and a first down for the Wildcats. The next play, Raymond Sanders ran for 12 yards to around midfield and the Cats seemed to be driving. La’Rod King continued the drive with a big first down catch, that was almost intercepted, and the Wildcats were 1st and 10 on the Florida 41.
The Wildcats couldn’t muster another first down and Craig McIntosh came out to try a 54 yard field goal but was wide left.
Florida took over, and even though Kentucky’s Bud Dupree sacked Driskel for a loss of 7, the sophomore quarterback keeps the drive alive on 3rd down with a 24 yard pass to the Kentucky 36.
That was the end of the first quarter and Kentucky trailed the Gators 3-0.
The Gators started at the Kentucky 25 yard line and proceeded to run right at the Kentucky defense for the majority of the drive. The 11 play drive finished with a Mike Gillislee 1 yard touchdown run and the Gators took a 10-0 lead with 12:44 left in the 1st half.
Kentucky next drive ends not so well for Morgan Newton as the Wildcats gain another first down running the football, but Newton throws an interception by De’Ante Saunders and Florida took over on the Kentucky 24 yard line.
The Kentucky defense returned the favor though, as Martavious Neloms intercepted a Driskell pass in the endzone and the Wildcats took over on the 20 after the touchback.
The Wildcats can’t get any momentum off of the turnover, as Morgan Newton continued his poor play with a terrible interception to Florida’s Jaylen Watkins for a pick 6 and the Gators led 17-0 with 8:24 left in the 1st half.
Morgan Newton, to the dismay of every Kentucky fan on twitter, started the Kentucky drive with a 25 yard run for a first down. After several more runs, Morgan Newton threw an incompletion on 3rd and 3 and the Wildcats had to settle for a 46 yard field goal attempt by Craig McIntosh that sailed wide right.
Florida then did what Florida does, and that is make big plays. Omarius Hines caught a 52 yard pass from Jeff Driskell that Kentucky’s Dakotah Tyler never saw, and the Gators were in business on the UK 23 yard line.
The Kentucky defense did what they have done so far today as they stopped the Gator offense to a missed field goal with 2:50 left in the 1st half.
Kentucky took over but couldn’t get anything done offensively and had to punt to give the Gators one more chance in the 1st half.
Florida proceeds to drive yards and finished with a 19 yard pass from Jeff Driskel to Quinton Dunbar and the Gators take a 24-0 with 22 second left.
Morgan Newton wasn’t finished though, as he threw another interception and have the Gators 16 seconds to put points on the board again.
Florida couldn’t get another play off and the second half finishes with the Florida Gators leading 24-0 at the half.
I truly believe this half would be totally different if Maxwell Smith was healthy with the way the defense played.
Oh well, that is just how Kentucky’s luck goes
