LEXINGTON, Ky. — Florida quarterback Aaron Philo had 221 all-purpose yards and a touchdown to rally the Gators past No. 11 Kentucky 21-14 on Saturday.
The loss puts a dent in the Wildcats’ hopes of a College Football Playoff berth after being ranked 11th last week. They also lost ground in the SEC standings, falling to fifth place after starting the day tied for second.
Philo, back in the starting lineup after being benched against Georgia on Oct. 31, threw for 119 yards and ran for 102, including the go-ahead score on a 2-yard run with 9:08 left. Jadan Baugh also scored his SEC-leading 15th touchdown for Florida (6-4, 4-4), now bowl eligible.
“After the Oklahoma game, it just felt like we needed to play better. We looked back at Aaron’s body of work and felt like, off of what he had seen, we had seen him do, we need to go back to give him a shot, and see what it looked like,” Florida head coach Jon Sumrall said. “He didn’t hang his head last weekend when he didn’t get his number called. I thought he ran with confidence and toughness and physicality. When your quarterback takes some of the shots he takes that he did tonight, I think it kind of bleeds through the rest of your team.”
Kentucky (7-3, 5-3) dropped its second straight game as the offense struggled to move the ball after an opening 86-yard touchdown drive. The Wildcats crossed midfield three times but the Gator defense, coached by former Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White, turned them back.
“They beat our butts. We didn’t play to our standard. We’ve got to establish the run and score touchdowns,” Kentucky coach Will Stein said, pointing out “penalties, number one, turnovers, number two. We didn’t establish a run tonight at all. We got outphysicaled at the point of attack and we have to address it and get it fixed.”
Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey threw for 181 yards and a touchdown, but the Wildcat rushing game was non-existent with just 61 yards.
Florida punted five times in the first half, but Kentucky failed to take advantage and only led 7-2 at the half. On two different drives, the offense was stuffed on a third-and-3 at the Florida 45, and Minchey was called for intentional grounding for a loss of 17 yards on another.
“I’m really proud for Brad that our defense performed in his return here,” Sumrall said.
