Nothing soft about these Wildcats

Will Levis is only the third Kentucky quarterback ever to win consecutive games against Florida after UK's 26-16 win Saturday night. (UK Athletics Photo)

Kentucky associate coach Vince Marrow made sure every Kentucky player knew after Saturday’s 26-16 win at Florida that head coach Mark Stoops was now UK’s all-time winningest coach and presented him with the game ball.

However, my guess is that Marrow and Stoops probably would like to present another game ball to SEC Network analyst Roman Harper.

Remember he’s the one who talked about Florida was “going to win it pretty handily” because Kentucky “looked a little softer” than he could remember.

Well, Kentucky was anything but soft while wearing the Gators down and outscoring Florida 13-0 in the second half to secure consecutive wins over Florida for the first time since 1976-77. Florida’s defense got so tired that twice in the fourth quarter coach Billy Napier gambled on fourth down in his own territory and both times Kentucky held.

“The first thing I have got to say, who is soft now?” Stoops shouted to his team in the postgame locker room celebration on the UK Radio Network.

UK Network sideline reporter Dick Gabriel said UK players were “dancing, shooting video and posting for photos” before Stoops stood on a folding chair to address the team and made it clear Harper’s words had motivated the Cats.

Stoops called it a “helluva start” for his team and praised the team’s mental and physical toughness that was tested in the first half when UK made far more mistakes than normal and also lost starting safety Jalen Geiger to a knee injury.

“None of us can do this without each other. I love you,” Stoops said to his team. “We have something special to do and prove. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate you.”

Stoops had told ESPN sideline reporter Katie George the win was a “thing of beauty” despite the first-half mistakes and it took an “experienced, tough” team to persevere.

Remember even though UK beat Florida last year, won 10 games and returned not only quarterback Will Levis but a group of defensive players, Florida was a touchdown favorite despite having a new coach and lacking depth because of player transfers after last season.

The fourth quarter, Kentucky wore out the Gators. Try to think when that was even a possibility before Stoops arrived. I think it happened in 1977 but probably not since then.

“We knew we were leaning on them and getting some tough yards,” Stoops said on the UK Radio Network postgame show. “Our guys said at halftime they felt great (despite trailing 16-13). We didn’t play a great first half and are only down three points and if  not for two bad snaps the game is tied. we took their best shot, regrouped and came right back at it.”

Remember UK won by 11 points at Florida in 2018 and now has a 10-point win in Gainesville. Kentucky had one win by 10 or more points in its first 32 games int Florida in 1979. Now it has two in five years.

Kentucky did it because it had a bevy of stars from freshman Dane Key hauling in a 55-yard scoring pass to linebacker Jordan Wright not only making an acrobatic one-handed interception but doing it with UK down 16-7 to backup safety Jordan Lovett making seven tackles to Kavosiey Smoke running for 80 yards.

But also think about this. Only three UK quarterbacks have ever won two straight games against Florida — NFL Hall of Fame Babe Parilli, Derrick Ramsey and now Will Levis.

Levis took a vicious shot to the head early in the game and never flinched. Remember how he was disappointed with his 303-yard, three-touchdown game last week. Against Florida he was 13 of 24 for 202 yards and one score with one interception that was not his fault because he was hit as he tried to throw. He got sacked three times but just kept playing.

Now Kentucky is clearly in position to challenge for the SEC East title. Tennessee got a significant win at Pittsburgh Saturday and Georgia is Georgia. But Kentucky knows now it can win at Florida without playing a perfect game and this offense is only going to keep getting better.

“Everybody was doubting us again. That’s the way we like it,” Stoops said. “That’s who we are. We are a tough, grind it out, find a way to win football team.”