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Kentucky Football: 5 takeaways from Wildcats’ 2018 season

By Shelbie Warr

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Lynn Bowden Jr. #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs for a first down after catching a pass against Jan Johnson #36 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the third quarter of the VRBO Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Lynn Bowden Jr. #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs for a first down after catching a pass against Jan Johnson #36 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the third quarter of the VRBO Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – SEPTEMBER 23: Garrett Johnson #9 of the Kentucky Wildcats catches a touchdown pass while defended by Duke Dawson #7 of the Florida Gators during the game at Kroger Field on September 23, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – SEPTEMBER 23: Garrett Johnson #9 of the Kentucky Wildcats catches a touchdown pass while defended by Duke Dawson #7 of the Florida Gators during the game at Kroger Field on September 23, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. Beating Florida, breaking the streak was a turning point

It may have only been Week 2 of the season, but this one was a turning point for the Kentucky Wildcats. It had been three decades since Kentucky was able to knock off Florida — three. That isn’t an exaggeration, rather simply the truth. However, the Wildcats came into this one telling themselves that they weren’t leaving without a victory and it showed in each and every snap.

This is a game that every Florida fan always looked forward to because it seemed that they were almost guaranteed a win, whether it was due to their own merit or Kentucky somehow blowing it and shooting themselves in the foot. Either way, they were set to leave with a victory. Not this time though, not by a long shot.

Terry Wilson accounted for three touchdowns, Benny Snell ran for 175 yards in the first Wildcat victory over Florida since 1986 and the first win in Gainesville since 1979. This game gave the Wildcats confidence and belief in themselves, as corny as that sounds. A season ago, everything looked promising for Kentucky until they basically blew it against Florida. It was a bad turning point in 2017 and a great one in 2018.

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