Dissecting the Florida Gators last touchdown pass

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The play that tied the game at 27 wasn’t what was called. It wasn’t supposed to be a passing play at all. Luckily, Florida Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio and receiver Freddie Swain made eye contact with nobody between Swain and the end zone.

Luckily, the two spent a lot of time together in the offseason rehabbing shoulder injuries and playing catch with the second team offense.

Luckily Kentucky, for the second time on Saturday night, forgot to cover a Florida receiver.

A lot of luck on the defining play of the game.

Start at the beginning.

The Gators offensive line started to move the Wildcats defensive line the drive before. That got freshman Malik Davis and the running game going. The o-line continued its push on the final drive for the Gators. When Florida called timeout with 49 ticks left on the clock they dialed up the same play they had been running.

“It was going to be the same run play we had run about five times up to that point,” Del Rio said after the game. “We ran it on fourth and 6 inches, it was when they measured it and it was short — same play. Just kind of a dive.”

Del Rio walked to the line of scrimmage, checked the defense and got under center. Swain, meanwhile, was getting set outside.

“At first he was there,” Swain said of the Kentucky cornerback. “He just shifted over, or I don’t know what he did but he left me open.”

That’s when he made eye contact with Swain and had the kind of no words needed conversation that only receivers and quarterbacks can have.

“He kind of gave me like a wide-eyed look and kind of put his arms up. He didn’t want to scream it. If you bring a lot of attention to yourself they’re just going to come cover you,” said Del Rio. “So Freddie is a guy that I had a lot of reps with in camp, a lot of reps with every week at practice. So I probably trust him the most out of anybody in the wideout room just because of all the reps that we’ve had this year. We rehabbed together, our shoulders, so kind of funny how it worked out that way. I trust him.”

Swain flew off the line and immediately turned around. It’s the easiest pitch and catch you’ll ever see in a game, that doesn’t mean Del Rio was going to celebrate before the referee put his hands above his head.

“When I first threw it I thought ‘Oh God, I hope it wasn’t over his head’,” he said.
In a savvy move, Del Rio didn’t alert the defense by freaking out or even checking the play. Running back Malik Davis looked stunned when the ball was snapped and Del Rio didn’t turn to hand it off. That stunned looked quickly faded as Swain pointed to the sky after his touchdown

It was Swain’s first catch of the season. Pineiro’s PAT gave Florida the one pint lead and the Gator defense held on for the 31st consecutive win over Kentucky.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC