Kentucky Falls to Auburn on Saturday
Dane Key caught four passes for 87 yards but Kentucky lost to Auburn 24-10 on Saturday night in Southeastern Conference football action at Kroger Field.
The Cats’ defense did its best to keep UK in the game. Kentucky had six tackles for loss, including four sacks. Jordan Lovett led the Cats with nine tackles, while Jamon Dumas-Johnson had eight tackles, including a sack.
Kentucky got the game’s first possession and the Cats looked good early. Vandagriff connected with Jason Patterson for a 15-yard completion, followed by a 21-yard completion to Dane Key, getting UK to the Auburn 32. However, the drive would stall and the Cats would get a 46-yard field goal from Alex Raynor, giving Kentucky a 3-0 lead with 11:28 to play in the first quarter.
After a penalty on the kickoff, the Auburn drive started at its own eight yard line. The UK defense completely shut down the drive, forcing a three-and-out and an Auburn punt. UK took over at its own 47 yard line with 10:13 left in the first period.
Kentucky’s offense would get the explosive plays going on the next drive. Jamarion Wilcox carried for 12 yards, followed by a spectacular 34-yard completion from Vandagriff to Key. Patterson then went 23 yards around the left end, getting the Cats to the Auburn three. A couple of plays later, the Cats would punch it in on a two-yard touchdown run by Wilcox. Raynor added the PAT and UK led 10-0 with 8:24 left in the period.
On the second play of the next Auburn drive, J.Q. Hardaway intercepted Auburn’s Payton Thorne and UK took over at the Auburn 40 yard line. However, the Cats were not able to do anything with the possession and were forced to punt. Auburn took over at its own 10 with 5:59 left in the first quarter.
Auburn would cross midfield on its next possession, but the UK defense again held and forced another Tigers’ punt. Kentucky took over at its own nine yard line with 2:10 left in the quarter. UK would lead 10-0 after the first period.
Early in the second quarter, Kentucky was forced to punt and Auburn took over at its own 47 with 13:28 left in the half. The Tigers would march 53 yards on just five plays, ending with a six-yard touchdown pass from Thorne to KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Alex McPherson added the point after and Kentucky’s lead was cut to 10-7 with 10:56 left in the half.
On the ensuing drive, Vandagriff connected with true freshman Hardley Gilmore for 22 yards. It was Gilmore’s first career reception and it got the Cats near midfield. However, three plays later, Vandagriff was intercepted by Auburn’s Jay Crawford. The Tigers took over at their own 37 yard line with 9:06 left in the half.
Auburn would drive into the UK red zone, but the Kentucky defense stopped the Tigers and force a field goal attempt. McPherson was good from 27 yards out and the game was tied 10-10 with 3:57 left in the half.
Kentucky would start its next drive at the 25 and the Cats would get a first down on a Vandagriff to Key connection for 12 yards. A defensive holding penalty got UK to midfield, but the drive stalled and UK punted, with Auburn taking over at its own 13 yard line. The Tigers got a 16-yard rush, followed by a 24-yard rush, both from Jarquez Hunter, getting Auburn to the UK 47. The AU drive continued inside the UK red zone. But UK’s J.J. Weaver came up with a huge sack of Thorne and, with Auburn having no timeouts remaining, the Tigers were unable to get a field goal attempt off before the clock expired. The teams went to the locker room tied at 10-10.
Auburn got the first possession of the third quarter and the Tigers went to the ground game. Four straight rushes got the ball past midfield. AU converted on a third-and-one from the UK 39. A pair of pass plays got the Tigers deep into UK territory and Hunter would score on a one-yard touchdown rush. McPherson added the extra point and Auburn led 17-10 with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
Kentucky would go three-and-out on its first possession after the break. The Cats punted and Auburn took over at its own 10 with 6:52 left in the third quarter.
The Tigers would get out of that hole on a 50-yard rush by Hunter, taking the ball to the UK 35 yard line. After one more first down, the UK defense stopped the Auburn and McPherson missed a 47-yard field goal, giving the Cats possession with 3:38 left in the third quarter.
Kentucky got a first down on its next possession and got the ball near midfield before having to punt. Auburn would take over at its own 20 with 1:56 left in the third period. Auburn would lead 17-10 through three quarters.
Early in the fourth quarter, Hunter broke loose again, scampering 45 yards for a touchdown to extend the Auburn lead. McPherson added the PAT and Auburn led 24-10 with 12:11 to play.
Kentucky would respond with a long, methodical drive. The biggest play on the drive came when Gavin Wimsatt connected with Key for 20 yards to the Auburn 40. UK would get the ball to the Auburn two yard line but on fourth and goal, Wimsatt was intercepted by Auburn’s Kayin Lee and Auburn took over at their own nine with just 4:39 remaining.
The Cats return to action on Saturday, visiting Neyland Stadium to take on Tennessee. Kickoff will be at either 7:30 or 7:45 and the game will be on either ESPN, ABC or the SEC Network.
