Sep 14, 2019; Lexington, KY, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask (11) passes the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Kash Daniel (56) in the 3rd quarter at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
September 15, 2019
No. 9 Florida, with backup quarterback Kyle Trask under center, scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally for a 29-21 victory over Kentucky on Saturday night in their SEC matchup in Lexington, Ky.
Trask, who entered the game after third-year starter Feleipe Franks dislocated his ankle and was carted off, completed 9 of 13 passes for 126 yards. He also rushed 4 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:11 remaining.
Running back Lamical Perine cut Florida’s deficit to 21-16 with 12:41 remaining in the game when he scored on an 8-yard run, capping a six-play, 62-yard drive that required just 2:15.
Trask put the Gators (3-0) up for good eight minutes later. The two-point conversion failed, and Florida led 22-21.
Kentucky (2-1), which dominated the first three quarters, had a chance to retake the lead late when the Wildcats marched 58 yards to set up a 35-yard field-goal attempt with 33 seconds remaining. But Chance Poore’s kick sailed wide right.
With the Gators trying to run out the clock, Josh Hammond broke free for a 76-yard touchdown run to account for the final score.
Florida amassed 438 total yards, 300 in the air. The two quarterbacks combined for 21-of-30 passing with one touchdown.
Franks was hurt while trying to scramble on fourth-and-1 late in the third quarter, getting caught from behind and having his right leg pinned as he was also tackled from the front. Head coach Dan Mullen told ESPN afterward the quarterback’s season is likely over.
Van Jefferson topped the Gators’ receivers with seven catches for 93 yards. Hammond was Florida’s top rusher with his one 76-yard run.
Kentucky had 407 yards, 267 via the pass.
Kentucky was playing its first full game since a season-ending knee injury to quarterback Terry Wilson. The junior had led the Wildcats to victories in 12 of his last 15 starts, including last year’s upset at Florida and the Citrus Bowl victory over Penn State.
His replacement, Sawyer Smith, arrived at Kentucky in late June as a graduate transfer from Troy. Smith completed his first nine passes, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to Ahmad Wagner.
Smith also rushed 1 yard for a score to give Kentucky a 14-7 halftime lead. He ended the game 23 of 35 for 267 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Kavosiey Smoke topped Kentucky with 81 yards rushing on 16 attempts. Lynn Bowden and Wagner each had 70 yards in receptions.
–Field Level Media
