WHAT HAPPENED: UK linebacker Trevin Wallace returned a blocked field goal 76 yards for the go-ahead score in the third quarter, tailback Chris Rodriguez Jr. had a 9-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run, and the Wildcats, backed by a wild and crazy Kroger Field crowd, upset the 10th-ranked Gators 20-13 Saturday night. Kentucky beat Florida for just the second time in 34 years (and for the first time in Lexington since 1986) despite just 211 yards of total offense. That's because the Gators aided the home team's cause with 15 penalties and a fourth-quarter interception by Emory Jonesthat led to the Rodriguez touchdown. Even so, UF had a chance to tie the game and force overtime after driving to the UK 5 with a first down inside a minute remaining. But a 4-yard loss on a pass play was followed by a false-start penalty, turning first-and-goal at the 5 into second-and-goal at the 14 with 31 seconds left. On fourth-and-goal from the 8, Jones' pass into the end zone fell incomplete and moments later the field was a sea of Big Blue as police let the fans empty onto the field to celebrate. Jones finished 23 of 31 for 203 yards, one touchdown and the one interception. Offensively, the Gators finished with 382 yards of total offense, including a season-low 171 on the ground. Even the return of backup quarterback Anthony Richardson couldn't help the UF cause. Richardson completed his only pass attempt for eight yards and rushed five times for 25. UK quarterback Will Levis completed just six of 15 passes for 74 yards a touchdown, while Rodriguez, the SEC's rushing leader coming in, carried 19 times for 99 yards and the put-away score. Florida led 10-7 midway into the third quarter and had a great chance to add to the lead after an interception by Tre'Vez Johnson set the Gators up with a first down at the UK 31. The drive, however, went nowhere and Jace Christmann's 48-yard field goal was blocked by defensive lineman Josh Paschal and taken the distance by Wallace to flip the scoreboard in Kentucky's favor at 13-10 (the point-after was blocked). On the Gators' ensuing possession, Jones tried to force a pass to tight end Kemore Gamble, who was double covered. The ball was intercepted by linebacker J.J. Weaver, who returned the play 20 yards to the UF 29. Four plays later, Rodriguez broke free and untouched off the right side for a 9-yard touchdown run and 10-point UK lead with 11:32 to play. A 33-yard field goal by Christmann made it a one-possession game with 6:23 left and set up the frantic final seconds.
Wideout Trent Whittemore (14) gives the "TD" signal after teammate Ja'Quavion Fraziars (0) finished a 7-yard score off a screen pass from Emory Jones for the first points of Saturday night's game at Kentucky.
WHAT IT MEANS: With the loss, UF tumbled to fifth place in the SEC East Division standings, two games behind No. 2 Georgia, which looked positively dominant in shutting out No. 8 Arkansas 37-0 at home earlier in the day, and two behind Kentucky, which will enter the Associated Press Top 25 next week. In losing to the Wildcats for the second time in four seasons (and just the second time since 1987), the Gators will be down a head-to-head tiebreaker against UK, for whatever that's worth.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Wildcats. They're 5-0 and tied with Georgia for first place in the SEC East. A really, really big night in the Bluegrass State. That's a rarity during football season.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Fifteen Florida penalties for 115 yards, including eight false-start calls. Way too many miscues in a close road game when field position was paramount. Kentucky was flagged four times for 30 yards. UF's penalty yardage equaled more than half of the actual yardage gained by UK's offense. The 13 points equaled the fewest scored by the Gators in Coach Dan Mullen's four seasons.
UP NEXT: The Gators (3-2, 1-2) are back home for a noon SEC East homecoming date against Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-2). The Commodores had a Saturday night home game against Connecticut, which was billed as a matchup between two of the worst teams in FBS. The Commodores won 30-28 on a field goal as time expired. Florida has defeated Vandy seven straight and 29 of the previous 30, dating to 1989.
