The Cats dominant defense was on display again Saturday
On Saturday, the Kentucky Wildcats hosted Ohio inside Kroger Field, just a week after their gut-wrenching loss to top-ranked Georgia.
The biggest headline leading up to this game was how this team would respond to such a disappointing but admirable defeat. Would they come out flat, or would they take care of business vs. a lesser team?
It took a few drives, but the offense eventually found the end zone and jumped out to a 17-0 lead heading into halftime after leading just 3-0 after the first 15 minutes. The Cats continued that domination in the second half en route to a 41-6 victory. Even backup QB Gavin Wimsatt got some run and led a touchdown drive in the closing minutes.
It wasn’t always perfect, but Mark Stoops’ team did what they were supposed to do and executed well enough to win the game by a healthy margin.
Once again, the Cats relied on their stellar defense to take control of the contest. A Maxwell Hairston third-quarter pick-six put the game out of reach for the Bobcats.
Overall, it was a solid performance for Kentucky, who is now back to .500 with plenty of season remaining.
Things won’t get easier as the Cats travel to Oxford next week to battle the No. 5 ranked Rebels, who have been dominant this season.
Here are a few things to know after Kentucky’s win over Ohio.
Kentucky’s offense finally finds the end zone
After what seemed like an eternity, the Wildcat offense was finally able to put seven points on the board by executing in the red zone.
UK scored two touchdowns in the first half — both short runs by Demie Sumo-Karngbaye. Jamarion Wilcox added 82 yards on just eight carries.
Dane Key torched the Bobcats for 145 yards on seven catches.
Getting that weight off their shoulders was necessary. However, several first-half drives sputtered, and late second-quarter clock mismanagement left much to be desired.
There were moments of fluidity, but on a grand scale, the Cats cannot find a consistent rhythm on offense.
Brock Vandagriff continues to show flashes of why he was such a highly-rated prospect, but his inexperience is also shining through. Kentucky needs him to keep improving for this team to eventually reach bowl eligibility.
Dane Key shines bright
No. 6 had a monster first half, catching four balls for 109 yards and a near touchdown. In the second quarter, Key showed off his athleticism by hurdling a defender and just missing the end zone. Instead, his efforts set the Cats up for an easy score.
Key would finish the game with seven catches for 145 yards. Despite not scoring
a touchdown, his 20 yards-per-catch really helped to open up running lanes for the Kentucky offense.
Brad White’s defense continues to impress
The Kentucky defense picked up right where it left off last week by playing impressive football.
Brad White’s defensive unit shut out Ohio in the first half and only gave up 112 total yards to the Bobcats. The third quarter was highlighted by a Maxwell Hairston pick-six, the third of his career.
With Kentucky’s offense still figuring things out, it’s great to have a consistent defense to rely on week in and week out.
This defense has established themselves as a top unit in the country. Now, it gets a major test against maybe the best offense it will face all season…
A trip to No. 5 Ole Miss looms
One great thing about playing football in the SEC is that the league provides multiple opportunities each season for a signature win.
After coming up just a little bit short against Georgia, the Cats have another shot at beating a top-five team.
Beating Ole Miss on the road will be no easy feat. The Rebels have a stout defensive line and have absolutely blistered each team they’ve faced thus far.
Lane Kiffin’s squad tattooed their first three opponents with a scoring margin of 168-9.
ESPN’s matchup predictor likes the Rebels — they’ve been pegged as the likely winners by a margin of 90.8%.
Kentucky has proven it has the talent to beat one of the biggest powerhouse programs in the country, so being ready for Saturday should be the expectation.
Now, let’s celebrate the win!
Go Cats!!