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BOX SCORE
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- In a battle of coaches known for their
offensive wizardry, Florida's Steve Spurrier showed Hal Mumme of
Kentucky the value of a good defense.
The third-ranked Gators held Mumme's "Air Raid" offense to its
lowest point total in two-plus seasons in Lexington, taking a 28-0
lead on the way to a 38-10 win Saturday night.
"Our defense was the story of the game," Spurrier said. "To
hold Kentucky to 10 points, I don't know who has done that
before."
|  | | Florida's Robert Gillespie runs through Kentucky defenders for a 47-yard reception. |
The answer is no one, as Florida (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern
Conference), registered its 13th straight victory over the Wildcats
(2-2, 0-1) and its sixth straight by double digits.
Florida safety Marquand Manuel said holding the Wildcats to just
a touchdown and a field goal wasn't enough.
"We could've shut them out," he said, bemoaning a pair of
personal foul penalties that contributed 29 yards to Kentucky's
lone touchdown drive. "We've got a lot of things we can get better
at."
With a strong defensive performance and an offensive attack that
ran up 224 yards on the ground, Florida was able to win without
much contribution from its usual deep passing game.
"It's good to get out and play some smash-mouth football now
and then," center Corey Yarbrough said.
Starting tailback Earnest Graham left the game after suffering a
deep thigh bruise on the second play, but the Gators' line was able
to open big holes for Robert Gillespie and Bo Carroll, who had
little trouble picking up for Graham.
The pair averaged nearly 8 yards per carry as Gillespie ran for
108 yards and two touchdowns, while Carroll had 86 yards and one
score.
After throwing six interceptions in the Gators' first three
games, Doug Johnson was 19-of-34 for 241 yards and two touchdowns,
with no interceptions.
There were few highlights for Kentucky, which had fewer than 400
yards for only the fourth time under Mumme, finishing with 317.
"I think most of the mistakes we made tonight were youthful
mistakes," Mumme said. "Florida is just a great team. We're not
scared of them, we're just very young."
Sophomore quarterback Dusty Bonner, starting his first SEC game
since succeeding NFL No. 1 draft choice Tim Couch, finished with 36
completions on 46 attempts for 254 yards, no touchdowns and an
interception.
Gillespie keyed Florida's first touchdown with a short catch
that he broke for a 47-yard gain. That set up Carroll's 14-yard
scoring run with 10:22 left in the first quarter.
On the next Florida scoring drive, it was Carroll running up a
seam in the Kentucky defense for 25 yards, then John Capel going 14
yards on an end around.
That set up Johnson's play-action fake and deep throw to Darrell
Jackson, who streaked 49 yards to the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Bonner looked shaky, struggling to find open
receivers and overthrowing a couple. Florida made him pay for his
most serious mistake, a second-quarter overthrow that was easily
intercepted by Bennie Alexander. Five plays later, Gillespie bulled
into the end zone for a 21-0 Florida lead.
The Gators pushed the advantage to 28-0 with a 10-play, 80-yard
drive that ended with Johnson finding Brian Haugabrook in the left
corner of the end zone.
Bonner led Kentucky on a 10-play, 80-yard drive near the end of
the half, that was aided by a pair of personal foul calls on the
Florida defense. A 5-yard run by Derek Homer put the Wildcats on
the scoreboard with 1:24 left in the half.
When the Wildcats drove to a 37-yard field goal by Marc Samuels
to start the second half, they were within 18 points, but that was
as close as they would get.
Florida's Jeff Chandler kicked a career-best 49-yard field goal
to make it 31-10, and Florida used a third-quarter Homer fumble
deep in Gator territory to kick off their final touchdown drive,
which finished with Gillespie's second touchdown of the night.
It was Homer's third fumble in four games. He finished with a
team-high 83 yards rushing, while James Whalen Jr. caught 12 passes
for 85 yards.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
Kentucky Clubhouse
Top 25 overview
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Doug Johnsons' pass to Daryl Jackson for a 49-yard TD.
avi: 443 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
Bo Carroll 14-yard scoring run in the first quarter.
avi: 392 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
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