VRBO Citrus Bowl: Kentucky rallies late & holds off Iowa to get the win 20-17

The VRBO Citrus Bowl played this afternoon on a beautiful sunny day at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL featuring the Kentucky Wildcats 9-3 overall 5-3 SEC against the Iowa Hawkeyes 10-3 overall 7-2 Big 10. Kentucky entered the game riding a 3 game winning streak while Iowa looked to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to Nebraska ending their 4 game winning streak.

After forcing Iowa to punt on the opening possession, Kentucky capped off a 80 yard touchdown drive with a 5 yard pass from QB Will to Chris Rodriguez. Each team would trade punts before Iowa found the scoreboard early in the 2nd quarter with a 28 yard field goal from Caleb Shudak.

Kentucky would hold Iowa scoreless for the remainder of the 1st half while also adding 2 additional field goals from 21 & 27 yards to extend their lead at the half 13-3.

Iowa started the second half with 2 strong defensive stances and capitalized on the later mounting a 50 yard touchdown drive finished by Arland Bruce’s 20 yard run. Iowa carried the momentum into their next possession and capped off an impressive 92 yard touchdown drive with a 36 yard pass from Hawkeye QB Spencer Petras to Sam LaPorta for a 17-13 lead.

The following 2 possessions for both teams fell short from scoring with Kentucky being intercepted on their later. Faced with being down 13-17 with under 4 minutes to play in the game and all the momentum on Iowa’s side of the field, Kentucky looked for a ray of light. That beam of light came in the form of Wildcat wide receiver Wan’ Dale Robinson. Robinson came up huge during the Kentucky securing 4 passes in crucial times with receptions of 7, 17, 10, & 52 yards. Robinson’s spectacular diving final catch set up Kentucky on the Iowa 1 yard line for a chance to reclaim the lead. The Wildcats did just that with a touchdown run from Chris Rodriguez for a 20-13 lead with just 1:43 left to play.

Iowa started their final drive on their own 20 yard line and after quickly moved the ball to the Kentucky side of the field. Faced with 2nd & 5 from the Wildcats 40 yard line and :40 seconds, Iowa looked to further push the ball deeper into Kentucky territory. Wildcat’s defender DeAndre Square squashed all hope of the Hawkeye’s comeback when he intercepted Petras’ pass at the 26 yard line securing the Kentucky win 20-17.

The Kentucky win closed out the Wildcats season on a 4 game winning streak and 10 wins overall.

Attendance: 50769

GAME STATS

Offense:

Kentucky – 354 total, 24 first downs, 3rd down conversions 6 of 14, time of possession 37:54

Iowa – 360 total, 20 first downs, 3rd down conversions 4 of 11, time of possession 22:06

Rushing:

Kentucky (121 yds) – C. Rodriguez 20/107 yds 1TD, Lesho 10/42 yds

Iowa (173 yds) – G. Willams 16/98 yds, L. Williams 10/42 yds, A. Bruce 1 TD

Passing:

Kentucky (233 yds)– W. Levis 17-28 233 yds 1TD 1INT

Iowa (211 yds) – S. Petras 19-30 211 yds 1TD 3 INT