The Gators had beaten UK 31 times in a row, the country’s longest current streak by any team over another. And seemingly every year, UK had the Gators on the ropes, with shenanigous endings costing the Wildcats over and over. This time, though, the game’s biggest blooper went against the Gators, with a seemingly made UF field goal being ruled a miss. Still, the Gators made it a one-score game when Feleipe Franks found Freddie Swain for the wide-open TD, but missed basically the same play on the 2-point try. That made it 21-16. Touchdown Gators, the 2 point conversion is No Good!!!!!! ! Kentucky leads 21-16 with 3:43 left in the 4th Quarter pic.twitter.com/lo8W5cJs4W — NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) September 9, 2018 And then, during UF’s last-grasp drive, Florida seemed to think a Josh Allen strip-sack of Franks was an incompletion. The ball bounded around for a while before UK decided to just run the thing back to the end zone. The final score: 27-16. Cats beat Gators for the first time since Top Gun was in theaters. CHOMP CHOMP: Josh Allen with the Gator Chomp after the win pic.twitter.com/MjIvTPouTR — Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) September 9, 2018 This ends a long, long trail of frustration for UK. In 2017, UK lost because it ... literally forgot to cover receivers. Previously: In 1993, Kentucky held a 20-17 lead with less than 10 seconds left on the clock in Lexington. But Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who threw three picks that night, threw a touchdown to receiver Chris Doering with three seconds left. The touchdown sealed a 24-20 Florida win. Then 10 years later in 2003, the 14-year-old streak looked to be in danger. It was Rich Brooks’ first season, and his team was up 21-3 at halftime. But in the fourth quarter, true freshman quarterback Chris Leak took over, throwing two touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion to go up 24-21 with a little over three minutes left in the game. The Wildcats tried a 49-yard field goal with less than a minute left, but it was no good. The game in 2007 looked like one of Kentucky’s best shots, after a historic upset over No. 1 LSU the week prior, with the Wildcats hosting Florida in Lexington. The Wildcats went down to Tim Tebow and Florida’s offense 28-10 in the second half, but UK’s offense pulled within a score in the third quarter. A pair of Gator fourth-quarter touchdowns would seal Florida’s 45-37 victory, with Kentucky scoring a touchdown in the final seconds. In 2014 in Gainesville, Kentucky lost, 36-30, in triple overtime amid dubious officiating. During the game’s first overtime, Florida had the ball second and tied things up on a pass from Jeff Driskel to Demarcus Robinson on fourth down. But it looked like Driskel didn’t get the ball snapped before the play clock hit zero: The next season, the Wildcats held Florida’s offense to just 14 points the whole night, keeping them off the board entirely in the second half. But Kentucky could just score two field goals in the fourth quarter lost 14-9 to Florida then 14-9 at home in 2015. As for Florida, well — its own troubling run continues.<doc-sep>It’s a party in Lexington after Kentucky upset the 25th-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday. The first win over Florida in three decades was a program-changing moment, and it was something that players, coaches and fans are soaking up every bit of as they celebrate. Whether it was in Gainesville or down on State Street, Saturday was a very special night that many will remember for the rest of their lives. Here is a look at some of the best moments from the celebration taking place around the Big Blue Nation: Any recommendations for a clean up crew? We need them here at 6 am tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/nVlDHYokUE — KSBar and Grille (@KSBarAndGrille) September 9, 2018 Not all of the celebration was great, however, as some fans took it a little too far while partying down on State Street. This doesn’t even look real pic.twitter.com/Srpp3EjAbm — Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) September 9, 2018 Aftermath of car being flipped back over. Cop lights visible at the end of the street pic.twitter.com/kaWmBpn7ZS — Kentucky Kernel (@KyKernel) September 9, 2018 Be safe, party responsibly, and go Cats! A Sea of Blue comes loaded with the best Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other stuff, so be sure to go ‘like’ our Facebook page and then go follow our Twitter page.<doc-sep>For 32 long years, Kentucky football was on the wrong side of history vs. Florida. Since 1986, the Wildcats had played 31 games against the Gators and 31 straight times, had come away a loser. Whether it was the 73-7, 65-0 or 63-5 beatdowns in 1994, 1996 and 2008 or the soul-crushing defeats in 1993 (24-20), 2002 (41-34), 2003 (24-21) or 2014 (36-30), The Streak had become part of the UK football fan's collective psyche. That feeling of creeping dread, waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for the boogeyman to spring back to life for one last scare. Kentucky football took on the role of the lovable loser, where you had to laugh to keep from crying as the team seemingly invented new ways to lose games. For decades, Kentucky held the unfortunate distinction of holding two of the longest losing streaks in college football history to SEC East foes Tennessee and Florida. In 2011, Volunteers curse was lifted. Last season, another 29-26 win in Lexington made that streak feel like ancient history. Last season, Kentucky led 27-14 before surrendering a pair of touchdowns over the final eight minutes in a demoralizing 28-27 loss. The Wildcats were the better football team by every statistical measure except for the final score. In a lifetime of bad losses, 2017 was the nadir. Despite going on to win seven games and reach a second consecutive bowl game, UK football fans were seemingly shell shocked, living a nightmare they simply couldn't wake up from. Even by UK football standards, last season's loss to Florida was a bit much for one of the most resilient fan bases in all of sports. The 2017 Gators stole something from UK fans they'd never be able to get back. The Streak had become more than some could bear. Saturday night, all the familiar warning signs indicating danger ahead were once again there: two turnovers, two dropped interceptions. Like 2017, Kentucky took a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter. Like 2017, Darius West came up with a second half interception. Trailing 21-16, the Gators took the field for its final drive, where it would once again surely play the role of Lucy to the Wildcats' Charlie Brown. But when Josh Allen jarred the ball loose from Feleipe Franks and Davonte Robinson casually returned it for a touchdown as the clock hit 00:00, 32 years worth of demons dissipated into the thick Florida air in Gainesville Saturday night. Kentucky 27, Florida 16. The Streak was finally dead and buried. Mark Stoops, Benny Snell, Terry Wilson and Co. did it for Moe Williams. For Tim Couch and Craig Yeast. For Jared Lorenzen, Derek Abney and Artose Pinner. For Rich Brooks. For Andre Woodson, Jacob Tamme, Rafael Little, Keenan Burton and Wesley Woodyard. For Randall Cobb. For Stephen Johnson. For all of the Kentucky players since 1986 that never tasted victory over Florida. Afterward, a number of former Wildcats took to Twitter to share their thoughts, reactions and gratitude.<doc-sep>After 31 years of frustration, Kentucky was finally able to go into Gainesville and come away with a 27-16 win over the Florida. Despite being a two-touchdown underdog and having not won in Gainesville since 1979, the Wildcats were clearly the better team Saturday, and the final score told that very story. It’s a win still very fresh in all of our minds, and it’s something Big Blue Nation won’t want to stop celebrating anytime soon. Good news. We now have a behind the scenes look at what took place at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, both during the memorable win and a very special postgame celebration. Enjoy the latest work of Kentucky Wildcats TV: A Sea of Blue comes loaded with the latest and greatest Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other fun stuff, so be sure to go ‘like’ our Facebook page and then go follow our Twitter page. Go Cats!<doc-sep>
Saturday was a special night, and it won’t be forgotten anytime soon in the hearts of the Big Blue Nation. Saturday was the first time Kentucky beat the Florida Gators since the 1986 season. Making the 27-16 win even sweeter is that it was the first win in Gainesville since the 1979 season. That kind of history is fun to beat, but it also had taken its toll on the fanbase, former and current players, especially in recent years when Kentucky gave away games it should have won. As you can imagine, Twitter was quite the part when the game ended. Here’s a look at some of the best reactions from current and former players, as well as other members of the BBN: For the BBN, and most importantly for the STATE OF KENTUCKY... THIS IS FOR YOU! — Kash Daniel (@KashDaniel15) September 9, 2018 I’m crying in a bar in Baton Rouge. I love my Wildcats more than anything. So proud to have worn that jersey! #BBN #WeDidIt — Patrick Towles (@patty_ice_8) September 9, 2018 BBN!!! — Boom Williams (@boom_that_guy) September 9, 2018 Love being apart of this team!! Go Big Blue!!! — Courtney Love (@Courtney_Love51) September 9, 2018 Words cannot describe that feeling #BBN — Drake Jackson (@THE_DRAKE_52) September 9, 2018 What a feeling...Love this team!! — Tristan Yeomans (@TristanYeomans) September 9, 2018 We really made history ⚪️. I Love #BBN — _59 (@59_looney) September 9, 2018 Lost in all this partying is the genuine happiness I have for some friends who came so close to beating Florida and just fell short. Cheers to you @timcouchtv @JaredLorenzen22 @stephen_h_j @cp_walker16 @AMacGinnis8 ... I could tag 100 of you. The streak is over! — Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) September 9, 2018 Congrats to the Kentucky Wildcat football team. It’s been 32 yrs and u deserve it. U have been the FAR SUPERIOR team to Florida for the past 2 YEARS. Never thought I would hear my UK cheerleader wife gloat during the fall, in my lifetime. My how times have changed in G’ville! — Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) September 9, 2018 To every life long KENTUCKY fan, that was for you! — Chase Heuke (@ChaseHeuke) September 9, 2018 “How long is Kentucky’s win streak against Florida?” pic.twitter.com/D4pqb3yr37 — Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 9, 2018 WATCH HOW YOU SPEAK ON OUR NAME. pic.twitter.com/LGPzTEFdoT — Mr SNELL YA LATER (@benny_snell) September 9, 2018 Walking out of The Swamp like: pic.twitter.com/8ItTOtPTYG — SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 9, 2018 I will ride and die for this man. Love you coach! @UKCoachStoops #BBN pic.twitter.com/v4TYiXnP3v — Kash Daniel (@KashDaniel15) September 9, 2018 Sleep easy tonight, Kentucky. — Logan Stenberg (@LBStenberg) September 9, 2018 Sea of Blue comes loaded with the best Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other stuff, so be sure to go ‘like’ our Facebook page and then go follow our Twitter page.