Florida foils Kentucky upset bid

Posted 7:59AM on Sunday 29th September 2002 ( 22 years ago )

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - Florida and Kentucky put on a show better suited for the back yard than The Swamp on Saturday. In a game full of big plays, big mistakes and huge momentum shifts, the seventh-ranked Gators somehow came out with a 41-34 victory over the newly revived Wildcats. Keiwan Ratliff returned an interception for a touchdown and scored two points on a defensive conversion to help the Gators (4-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) overcome their own mistakes and Derek Abney's two special-teams touchdowns. Rex Grossman threw for 375 yards and two touchdowns to Taylor Jacobs, but on this day, hardly anyone noticed. There were too many other crazy things happening. Florida's Matt Leach had two extra points blocked. Punter Sean Morton dropped a clean snap. Morton's replacement, Jason Hunter, had another punt blocked. Earnest Graham lost a fumble that led to a quick Kentucky touchdown. Abney had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and returned a punt 49 yards for another score. Abney's punt return pulled Kentucky (4-1, 0-1) to within 39-35 with 5:24 left, and might have left the Gators wondering what else could go wrong. Just then, Ratliff stepped in front of Jared Lorenzen's pass and made it to the end zone for a second time, this time for two points and a seven-point lead. Kentucky stopped Florida on its next possession, but came up empty when it got the ball back. The Gators ran the clock down to 2 seconds, and the game ended when Marcus Oquendo-Johnson sacked Lorenzen before he could get off a desperation heave. When it was finally over, two points were clear: Despite its win over Tennessee last week, the Gators still have problems. And Kentucky is legitimate. Artrose Pinner, the SEC's leading rusher, finished with 90 yards on 20 carries. Playing on a short field most of the day, Kentucky's hefty lefty, Lorenzen, threw for 180 yards and two scores. His second TD pass, a 39-yard hookup with Aaron Boone, came one play after Graham's fumble. It gave the Wildcats a 28-25 lead with 3 minutes left in the third quarter, leaving The Swamp in shock after the Gators held a 19-0 halftime lead. Sure, the Gators expected a challenge from the newly confident Wildcats. But losing to them for the first time since 1986? It hardly seemed possible, especially after the Gators dominated the first half, holding Kentucky to just seven first downs and 116 yards. Of course, this was no typical game, and no typical week for either the Gators or Wildcats. Gators coach Ron Zook - once a special-teams guru - took to the sideline just two days after his father, Pete, died of cancer he was diagnosed with about a month after his son was named coach of the Gators last winter. The Gators wore black patches with the name ``Pete'' on their helmets as a tribute to Zook's father, who was present for Florida's opener, Aug. 31. That day, Zook also ran out the tunnel first and pointed to his dad, who was sitting in the concourse watching his son's dream come true. Kentucky, meanwhile, was trying to show its first 4-0 record since 1984 was no fluke. Coach Guy Morriss received a two-year contract extension for the hot start, and despite the loss, the Wildcats left with and something to build on.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/9/189561