ChompTalk.com

In a game that had more drama than Broadway, Florida battled their way to a gutsy victory at Kroger Field, on Saturday night. The storylines were plenty, as Kentucky started Troy quarterback transfer, Sawyer Smith due to a torn patellar tendon suffered by Terry Wilson Jr. in last week’s victory over Eastern Michigan.

Florida entered the game down a couple playmakers of their own, in CJ Henderson and Kadarius Toney. I’m not entirely certain of just how much of an impact any of these absentees had on the final outcome of the game, which had its own storyline, but those who were on the field provided an evening filled with highs and lows.

Florida was attempting to avenge their first loss to Kentucky in 32 years. Kentucky wanted to begin a streak of their own by winning back-to-back games against the Gators for the first time in over forty years. Yet despite already having so many storylines, this meeting between the two SEC East rivals brought forth a couple more.

Florida’s Feleipe Franks sold out on fourth down, late in the third quarter, sacrificing his body as he fought to meet the line to gain. Unfortunately, he was twisted around and forced backward on top of himself.

He was in visible agony as the pile began to dissipate. Moments later, he was placed in a cast and loaded onto the back of the medical cart. He didn’t reach the first down marker, but as he rested on the rear of the cart, his entire team poured onto the field, surrounding him with a message of unity and support.

The Gators trailed 21-10 at that moment, though not because of the play of Franks, who finished 12/17 for 174 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. After that moment, the Gators galvanized, outscoring the Wildcats 19-0.

Kyle Trask made the most of finally seeing meaningful reps, leading the Gators to three fourth quarter scoring drives. By the time it was all said and done, Trask had recorded 126 yards passing, going 9/13 in the process. He even scored a touchdown on his only carry of the game.

To be certain, the offense was mostly effective when it came to moving the ball on Kentucky. The problems came from “the little things” that Dan Mullen frequently refers to. Franks found the endzone twice only to have both scores negated by holding penalties. Failure to execute blocking assignments closed the door on any potential for a running game.

On the defensive side of things, the Gators played uncharacteristically shy. The team that boasted 15 sacks and 26 tackles for loss coming into the game, failed to apply pressure for most of the first three quarters, and the coverage offered far too soft a cushion.

Once Grantham returned to his style of defensive play-calling, Sawyer Smith began to display some of his weaknesses in what was an otherwise respectable performance. It was pressure that eventually forced Smith into tossing three interceptions, and it was pressure that nearly caused another turnover when Jonathan Greenard forced a fumble on his only sack of the night.

Despite the late game heroics, Kentucky proved to be a much tougher opponent than Florida might have anticipated. Smith completed 23 of 25 passes for 267 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and the aforementioned trifecta of interceptions. Kavosiey Smoke added 81 yards on 16 carries, and was a problem for the Gators for most of the night.

Perhaps it was the team rallying around their fallen leader, or maybe they just got hot at the right moment. Whatever it was, the Gators did display some heroics as they found a way to win.

Kyle Pitts only had four catches on the night, but he was clutch in the moments he had to be, on his way to 63 yards. Similarly, Van Jefferson always seemed to find his way open as he recorded 7 catches for 93 yards.

When Florida needed to convert on third down while nursing a 22-21 lead late in the fourth quarter, Josh Hammond provided a 76 yard touchdown run. No one player got the job done on their own. Instead, they each contributed exactly what was needed in that moment, to reach their collective goal.

The Gators still have a long way to go before they reach their potential. There is much to improve before they can, once again, be a championship caliber team. It will be interesting to see how this team responds to losing their unquestioned leader, in Feleipe Franks. At least for now, they live to fight another day.