Gators dismantle highly touted Couch, Kentucky in blowout

But Couch left Florida still lacking one important thing: a victory over the Gators.

Since making his first college start two years ago against Florida, Couch has faced the Gators three times: a 65-0 blowout in 1996 at the Swamp; a 55-28 beating last year at Lexington in which the Wildcats fell behind 28-0 in the first quarter; and Saturday's 51-35 loss.

Saturday's game was by far Couch's best of the bunch. He completed 40 of 61 attempts for 406 yards and three touchdowns and gave up two interceptions, both in the late stages of the game.

AP PHOTO Florida wide receiver Nafis Karim (8) held off Kentucky cornerback Eric Kelly Saturday, as the Gators smoked Kentucky, 51-35 at the swamp.

His poised performance against Florida also marked how far Couch has come since two years ago, when he was 6-for-18 for 13 yards while running Bill Curry's option against the national title-bound Gators.

Couch said Kentucky had hoped for a high-scoring game.

"Obviously we'd like to come out on the other end of it, but that's the kind of game we do want to get into, a shootout, because we feel we can score more points than the other team," Couch said.

Coach Hal Mumme's game plan challenged Couch to focus on a short, high-percentage passing game, particularly in the early going, when it was crucial that Kentucky avoid turnovers.

Couch responded with a 15-of-25 first half in which he threw for 157 yards without an interception.

"That was my goal coming in, just execute to perfection and try not to get us out of the game early," Couch said.

"He field-generaled an entire game plan from start to finish," Mumme said. "He stayed with the game plan."

By Mumme's usual air-it-out standards, it was a small-ball attack - a lot of screens and dump-offs. The only play to save for Couch's Heisman highlight tape was his touchdown

throw to Craig Yeast on first-and-10 from the Wildcats 3. The quarterback lofted a pass to

Yeast around the 25, where the receiver had a step on cornerback Doc Pollard. Yeast broke a tackle by safety Teako Brown and streaked down the sideline unmolested for a touchdown that gave Kentucky a 14-7 lead.

The score secured yet another line in the Kentucky record book for Couch - longest offensive play in school history - and helped push him to the Kentucky

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