September 28th
All-Time Record Playing On September 28th: 7-5 (.583)
103 Years Ago Today (1907): Kentucky – 6 Winchester A.C. – 0 (Game Played In Lexington)
- Only meeting ever between the two schools
103 Years Ago Today (1907): Kentucky – 30 duPont Manual High School – 0 (Game Played In Lexington)
- Only meeting ever between the two schools
98 Years Ago Today (1912): Kentucky – 34 Maryville – 0 (Game Played In Lexington)
64 Years Ago Today (1946): Kentucky – 26 Cincinnati – 7 Nippert Stadium
53 Years Ago Today (1957): Kentucky – 0 #19 Ole Miss – 15 McLean Stadium
47 Years Ago Today (1963): Kentucky – 7 Ole Miss – 31 McLean Stadium
42 Years Ago Today (1968): Kentucky – 14 Ole Miss – 30 Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
36 Years Ago Today (1974): Kentucky – 28 Indiana – 22 Commonwealth Stadium (Attendance: 56,191)
- Sonny Collins rushed for 160 yards
- Mike Fanuzzi rushed for 114 yards
25 Years Ago Today (1985): Kentucky – 27 Cincinnati – 7 Commonwealth Stadium (Attendance: 57,192)
- Bill Ransdell passed for 300 yards
- Eric Pitts had 118 receiving yards
- Marc Logan rushed for 112 yards
19 Years Ago Today (1991): Kentucky – 24 Kent State – 6 Commonwealth Stadium (Attendance: 56,150)
14 Years Ago Today (1996): Kentucky – 0 #1 Florida – 65 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Attendance: 85,422)
- Jimmy Carter punted 13 times, tied for the most in a single game in school history
- Jimmy Carter had 539 punting yards, the most in a single game in school history
8 Years Ago Today (2002): Kentucky – 34 #7 Florida – 41 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Attendance: 85,333)
- Derek Abney was named SEC Special Teams Player Of The Week
- Derek Abney had a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, it was the 12th kickoff return for a touchdown in school history
- Derek Abney had a 49 yard punt return for a touchdown
- Kentucky scored 28 points in the 3rd quarter, tied for the 2nd most points scored in a 3rd quarter in school history
- Kentucky had 203 kickoff return yards, the 3rd most in a single game in school history
- Kentucky blocked 3 kicks, the most in a single game in school history
- Kentucky blocked 2 PATs, tied for the most in a single game in school history
Featured Game: September 28th, 2002 Kentucky – 34 #7 Florida – 41
Kentucky entered Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 2002 with a 4-0 record, their best start to a season since 1984. But, the Florida Gators had won the previous 15 meetings between the two schools by a combined score of 657-269, and Kentucky had never defeated a ranked Florida team down in Gainesville. The odds were stacked against the Wildcats, but Kentucky didn’t go down without a fight. Though, at the start of the game, it looked like another cakewalk for the Gators. Late in the first quarter, Jared Lorenzen fumbled a snap and the Gators recovered it at the Kentucky 1 yard line. Earnest Graham scored on a run on the next play to put Florida up 6-0. Kentucky didn’t start the 2nd quarter much better with Taylor Begley missing a 44 yard field goal. The Gators answered on their next drive, scoring on a 19 yard touchdown run by Ran Carthon, extending their lead to 12-0.Ran Carthon added another rushing touchdown, this time 6 yards, to bring Florida’s lead to 19-0 headed into the locker room at halftime. The Wildcats came out firing in the 3rd quarter, with Kentucky opening up the scoring with a 15 yard touchdown pass from Jared Lorenzen to Derek Abney with 12 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, cutting Florida’s lead to 19-7. The Gators answered on the next drive, scoring on a 4 yard touchdown pass from Rex Grossman to Taylor Jacobs with Florida’s lead now 25-14. On the ensuing kickoff, Derek Abney raced down the sidelines for a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and just like that Florida’s lead was cut to 25-14. Then the Wildcats got some more help from the special teams when they blocked a Florida punt and recovered the ball at the Florida 45 yard line. Kentucky responded on offense by scoring on a 1 yard touchdown run by Artose Pinner and suddenly Florida’s 1st half blowout turned into a slim 25-21 lead. On Florida’s next offensive play, Earnest Graham fumbled the ball and the Wildcats recovered on the Florida 24 yard line. After a penalty, the Wildcats went for it all on their first play and Jared Lorenzen hooked up with Aaron Boone for a 39 yard touchdown pass. The Wildcats had come all the way back to take their first lead of the game at 28-25. The Gators answered on their next drive when Rex Grossman threw a 35 yard touchdown pass to Taylor Jacobs and Florida quickly regained the lead at 32-28 heading into the 4th quarter. Early in the 4th quarter Jared Lorenzen threw a pass that was intercepted by Keiwan Ratliff and he returned it 62 yards for a touchdown and Florida’s lead was extended to 39-28. Then Derek Abney stepped up big yet again midway through the 4th quarter. Derek returned a Florida punt 49 yards for a touchdown to cut Florida’s lead to 39-34. Kentucky elected to go for a 2-point conversion to cut the Gators’ lead to 3 points. On the play though, Jared Lorenzen threw yet another interception to Keiwan Ratliff and once again Keiwan returned it all the way to the endzone, and Florida’s lead was now 41-34. Kentucky had the ball for one final play on their own 23 yard line but Jared Lorenzen was sacked and never got a pass off. The Wildcats lost a heartbreaking game to the Gators 41-34.
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