The Florida Gators took care of business on Saturday with another home win against the Kentucky Wildcats. The Gators have beaten the Wildcats 32 out of the last 33 meetings. It was also the first Florida has played Kentucky in the Swamp since Kentucky upset them in 2018. Here are three takeaways from the Florida-Kentucky game.
The Florida-Kentucky started off really slow. The Gators offense was barely on the field and the defense couldn’t stop the Wildcats offense. The second half was a big half for Florida. Its defense played lights out and the offense started rolling again.
The Gators also had their star tight end return. He had been out the past two games with a head injury. Florida’s special teams also had their best game of the season as they punted very well and had a 50-yard punt return touchdown before halftime.
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Florida Defense Has Dominant Second Half
The Florida Gators defense showed the same issues they have been dealing with all season. They couldn’t get lined up properly and the upperclassmen weren’t getting the job done. It got so bad that Florida head coach Dan Mullen started blowing up on defensive coordinator Todd Grantham when the defense was struggling.
We don’t know what was said but whatever it was worked. The Gators defense was dominant in the second half. Kentucky’s offense had only six drives in the second half. Two drives were ended by a three-and-out. Another on a turnover on downs and three on interceptions.
It didn’t look like the defense made a whole lot of changes. But there were personnel changes. It had the Florida defense playing faster and tougher. They weren’t playing as much soft coverage as before and the defensive line contained the Kentucky rushing attack and forced them to throw the ball. Overall, it was a good defensive performance holding Kentucky to just ten points and holding their offense to 221 total yards of offense.
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Kyle Pitts Returned With Terrific Performance
Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts returned to the gridiron after taking a big hit to the head in the Georgia game. Pitts missed the Arkansas and Vanderbilt game but came back for the Kentucky game and played like he never left.
Pitts led the Gators in receiving with five reception for 99 yards and three touchdowns. It was impressive to watch Pitts play at such a high level even when everybody knows that the ball is heading in his direction.
Pitts bullied the Kentucky defense as some of their players called him out heading into Saturday but might regret it now. Pitts might be the most unique pass catches in the SEC and college football. Florida’s coaching staff has done a really nice job of moving Pitts around and finding ways to get the ball in his hands consistently.
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Special Teams Came Out To Play
In a game when Florida’s offense had a slow start and couldn’t get in a rhythm, the special teams found a way to help out the offense. Kadarius Toney scored on a 50-yard punt return touchdown and gave Florida the lead with less than a minute left in the first half.
It was perfectly designed play as true freshman Xzavier Henderson faked catching the punt on one side of the field as Toney caught the punt on the other side. The entire Kentucky punt coverage unit was confused as Toney scored an easy touchdown. It was also their first punt return touchdown since 2018 versus Colorado State.
Florida’s punter Jacob Finn also had one of his best games at Florida. Finn has been called upon a lot this season but he had two punts for 94 yards. Both of his punts were inside the 20 including one punt in which was pinned at the one.
The Gators punting unit had a great fake punt in the first drive of the game. It was a direct snap to Dameon Pierce as Finn rolled right helping Pierce pick up the first down. Two plays later, Kyle Trask connected with Pitts for a 56-yard touchdown pass.
