Historic Game by Ray Davis Leads the Way in Huge Win Over Gators

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How dominant was Ray Davis and the Kentucky running game against Florida Saturday?

On Kentucky’s opening drive in the second half, UK went 68 yards in seven plays to score on a 2-yard run by Davis when Florida HAD 13 PLAYERS  on the field. That’s right. The Gators had 13 players for UK’s nine players to block and the Big Blue Wall still opened a hole for Davis to score his fourth touchdown of the game.

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Less than 20 minutes into Saturday’s 33-14 win, Kentucky had 241 yards — and Davis had all by 29 yards. He had 203 yards rushing, including a 75-yard touchdown run, on 10 carries and a 9-yard scoring catch. The Gators were averaging 2.2 yards per play and Kentucky was averaging 10.2 yards per play because of Davis.

Davis finished the game with 280 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries — an average of 10.8 yards per carry against a defense that had been allowing just over 80 yards per game rushing.

Davis became just the third UK player ever to reach 280 yards rushing in a game. The all-time single-game leader is Moe Williams with 299 yards against South Carolina in 1995 followed by that remarkable 2019 game against Louisville when receiver turned quarterback Lynn Bowden went for 284 yards.

The other top five performances before Davis’ huge day had been Williams with 272 yard against Cincinnati in 1995, Ivy Joe Hunter with 238 yards against Vanderbilt in 1986 and Williams 238 against Mississippi State in 1995.

Moe Williams had the all-time single game rushing record of 299 yards versus South Carolina in 1995 followed by Lynn Bowden with 284 against Louisville in 2019. The rest of the top five: Moe Williams, 272, 1995 vs. Cincinnati; Ivy Joe Hunter, 238, 1986 vs. Vanderbilt; and Moe Williams, 238, 1995 vs. Mississippi State.

Since 2000, only four players had rushed for 200 or more yards in a game against Florida. Davis reached that mark five minutes into the second quarter.

“He had six runs over 15 yards against a Florida (defensive) front that had been dominating,” ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer said.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Davis was “special” just like he has been this season. He leads the Southeastern Conference with 11 touchdowns.

“To get those types of explosive runs against the Gators, he deserves a lot of credit,” Stoops said.

Everyone agrees except for Davis. The Vanderbilt transfer was having no part of letting ESPN sideline reporter Katie George brag on him after UK’s second largest margin of victory against a ranked Florida in school history.

“My O-line talked to me today and said let’s go get it. Two things: I want to thank God and the Big Blue Wall,” Davis said. “It’s the Big Blue Wall. I have nothing to do with it. They have been facing a lot of criticism. They showed what they can do. I think we rushed for almost 300 yards.”

Kentucky actually ran for 329 yards but Davis had all but 49 of them.

“Nothing gets us more excited than when he hit that 75-yard touchdown run (that Davis had). I was smiling getting over the ball because we had the exact look we wanted. I thought if we get our blocks  he could be gone.

“Once you are in the middle of your block and hear the crowd get so loud it is exciting. That breakaway speed he showed was exciting.”

Even Stoops couldn’t hide his excitement.

“What can you say (about Davis). He ran around people, through people, made people miss,” the UK coach said. “He is a complete back.  He’s tough. He’s physical. You saw top end speed, saw him run over people and saw him make people miss. Then he has great vision. He has really good patience. He just has it all.”