Florida’s football team was handily defeated by Kentucky on Saturday, losing 33-14. And while the final score points to the Wildcats simply being a better team than the Gators, one play from the game hammers that point home beyond all reasonable doubt.
A touchdown late in the second quarter gave the Gators a significant, but manageable 23-7 halftime deficit. But any momentum from that was quickly halted on the first possession of the second half, when Kentucky marched 68 yards in eight plays to take a 30-7 lead, effectively icing the game. The touchdown came on a two-yard run from Wildcats running back Ray Davis, his third rushing touchdown of the day and fourth overall.
There was an injury time-out on the play immediately before Davis’ run. That gave both teams a chance to regroup and figure out what they wanted to do when play resumed. Whatever the Wildcats said worked well, as they scored a touchdown — despite the Gators having 13 men on the field.
And no, the extra two men were not the result of a late substitution. Florida had 13 men lined up in formation — and still allowed a two-yard touchdown run.
No. 22 Florida was soundly defeated by Kentucky earlier on Saturday. What went wrong for the Gators?
Having 13 men in formation on defense and still getting outmuscled on a TD run tells a pretty good story about what happened. pic.twitter.com/fwVRIaHaNG
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 1, 2023
The obvious comparison to make here is Notre Dame’s mistake from a week earlier. And there are some parallels. Clinging to a 14-10 lead in the final seconds of a top-10 clash against Ohio State, the Fighting Irish sent 10 guys onto the field coming out of a time-out. They got away with it, once, forcing an incomplete pass but still didn’t realize that they were undermanned in time. The Buckeyes took full advantage with Chip Trayanum scoring on a one-yard run to win the game.
Given the score, how little time was left and the ramifications of the game, Notre Dame’s mistake was certainly more dramatic and significant. But what was worse? That’s a different debate.
As mental mistakes, Notre Dame’s is worse. It happened on two plays. But there’s the significant difference. Notre Dame had 10 men on the field twice because the defense executed well enough to overcome it once. Florida had two extra guys on the field once and despite being at the goal line, the part of the field where every bit of muscle means the most, didn’t get a chance to make the same mistake a second time.
As one might imagine, the Gators were mocked for this.
Florida couldn’t stop Kentucky on the goal line with 13 people in the game.. pic.twitter.com/ijnIwC1fkq
— Dr. Post (@PalmBeach_Post) September 30, 2023
Florida had 13 players lined up on the field for this play and Kentucky STILL SCORED 😭 pic.twitter.com/VVsH0mpiwN
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) September 30, 2023
13 Florida defenders not enough to prevent a 4th Ray Davis touchdown for Kentucky pic.twitter.com/SSfNr1C4IC
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) September 30, 2023
Jesse Palmer: "This one wouldn't have been legal in Canada, in the CFL because I think the Gators had 13 guys on defense that last snap." https://t.co/l8oa4E6EVY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 1, 2023
lol at Florida having 13 on the field and still not stopping Ray Davis. pic.twitter.com/7jzhS2u6M3
— Les Johns (@Les_Johns) September 30, 2023
Kentucky was unranked going into the game but won’t be for long. The Wildcats are 5-0 and while their schedule hasn’t been particularly stiff, they’ve been nothing but dominant.
As for Florida, it’s hard to imagine anyone with the Gators looking forward to film session of this play.
[Photo Credit: ESPN]
