April 6, 2002
Wildcats Scrimmage: The Kentucky football team capped a two-hour practice with a one-hour, 10-minute scrimmage Saturday at the Nutter Training Facility.
The scrimmage provided a variety of situations, as the first- and second-team offensive units played the first- and second-team defenses at various times and starting points on the field.
First-team quarterback Jared Lorenzen played in four series and directed scoring drives of 80 and 60 yards. Lorenzen completed 7 of 10 passes for 102 yards, including TD tosses of 34 yards to wide receiver Derek Abney and 13 yards to wide receiver Aaron Boone.
Quarterback Shane Boyd saw playing time with both the first and second teams. He led scoring drives of 20 and 40 yards, with the touchdowns coming on a 10-yard pass to tight end Win Gaffron and a three-yard run by running back Alexis Bwenge (pronounced “buh-GEENG-ee”). Boyd completed 10 of 17 passes for 102 yards and one TD.
Sophomore wide receiver Gerad Parker had four receptions for 39 yards. Wide receiver DeMarcus Wood caught three passes for 20 yards. Abney caught two for 39, including one TD.
With senior running back Artose Pinner limited while recovering from an illness, redshirt freshman Alexis Bwenge made the most of his opportunity. He rushed 13 times for 69 yards with one touchdown. Pinner gained 26 yards on eight carries.
The first-team defense played very well, allowing only one touchdown drive on 10 possessions. To help prevent injury to the quarterbacks, plays were blown dead when the quarterback was first touched. The defense recorded 11 “touch” sacks, including four sacks by defensive tackle Jeremy Caudill, three by defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, two by defensive end Otis Grigsby, and one each by defensive end Raymond Fontaine and safety David Johnson.
The best moment for the second-team defense came on a goal-line stand. After the first-team offense drove to the one-yard line, the defense held on downs when sophomore linebacker Justin Haydock stopped Pinner on a fourth-and-one dive play.The defense did not create any turnovers during the scrimmage, but safety Muhammad Abdullah and cornerback Derrick Tatum each were credited with one pass breakup.
Kentucky remains on the hunt for a new placekicker. Three field goals were attempted during the scrimmage and all three were no good. Sevin Sucurovic missed from 19 yards, Justin Hutton missed from 32, and Clint Ruth’s 45-yard field goal was blocked by Dewayne Robertson. All four extra point kicks were good two by Taylor Begley and one apiece by Hutton and Ruth.
Saturday’s workout marked the halfway point of spring practice. The Wildcats return to the practice field Tuesday at 2:20 p.m. Seven practices remain, finalized by the Blue/White Game on April 20 at Commonwealth Stadium.
Here are the final offensive statistics from the scrimmage:
RUSHING — Bwenge 13-69, one TD, Pinner 8-26.
PASSING — Lorenzen 7-10-0, 102 yards, 2 TD: Boyd 10-17-0, 102 yards, 1 TD, Barclay 1-7-0, 5 yards.
RECEIVING — Parker 4-39, Wood 3-20, Abney 2-39, 1 TD, Bwenge 2-30, Sprowles 2-27, Pinner 1-14, Boone 1-13, 1 TD, Gaffron 1-10, 1 TD, Hopewell 1-10, Drobney 1-7.
Tentative Starting Times for Home Games: Tentative starting times have been selected for the 2002 Kentucky home football schedule. There will be 1:30 p.m. starts against Texas-El Paso, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana State, and Vanderbilt. The Indiana, South Carolina, and Georgia games are slated for 7 p.m. kickoffs.
Please note that the game times are tentative, pending selections made by network television. Some games will be selected for network television before the season begins, the remainder of the TV schedule is selected 12 days in advance of the game.
2002 Schedule:
DateOpponentSiteTime*
Sept. 1at Louisville (ESPN or ESPN2)LouisvilleTBA
Sept. 7Texas-El PasoHome1:30 p.m.
Sept. 14IndianaHome7 p.m.
Sept. 21Middle TennesseeHome1:30 p.m.
Sept. 28at FloridaGainesvilleTBA
Oct. 5open
Oct. 12South CarolinaHome7 p.m.
Oct. 19at ArkansasFayettevilleTBA
Oct. 26GeorgiaHome7 p.m.
Nov. 2at Mississippi StateStarkvilleTBA
Nov. 9Louisiana StateHome1:30 p.m.
Nov. 16VanderbiltHome1:30 p.m.
Nov. 23open
Nov. 30at TennesseeKnoxvilleTBA
*Note: times are tentative and subject to change if selected by network television.
Daylight Savings Begins Sunday: Remember that daylight savings time begins Sunday, April 7. Set your clocks one hour later.
Kentucky Football Calendar:
Spring Practices
April 92:20 p.m.
April 102:20 p.m.
April 122:20 p.m.
April 13TBA
April 162:20 p.m.
April 192:20 p.m.
Blue/White Spring GameApril 20 7 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium
– UK –
