Football Cats Complete Spring with Blue-White Game
The Kentucky football team wrapped up its spring practice on Saturday with the Blue-White Game at Kroger Field.
The offense beat the defense 23-18, but UK head coach Will Stein was more concerned about the work the team was able to do in front of a live crowd and in a game-like situation.
“The game’s the game, I think we got a lot of really good work,” Stein said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges we need throughout spring, to go into summer and fall and prepare the team to play.”
The offense put up more points than the defense during Saturday’s modified-scoring scrimmage, but Stein believed the entire team won in at least one aspect.
“We came out of the scrimmage clean, there were no injuries,” Stein said. “That’s the biggest win of the day. I could care less about the score. If we come out clean, that’s good.”
On the first possession of the game, the defense forced a three-and-out, earning three points in the process.
The second drive saw redshirt freshman Brennan Ward take command of the offense, and he drove the Cats down the field. Ward found tight end Mikkel Skinner for a 48-yard gain and Martels Carter Jr. would score a touchdown from six yards out to give the offense, after the Jacob Kauwe extra point, a 7-3 lead.
Kenny Minchey engineered the next drive, which saw the Cats drive deep into scoring territory behind a steady mix of run and pass. However, the drive stalled inside the 10 and the offense was forced into a field goal attempt that missed, giving the defense three points and cutting the offense’s lead to 7-6.
JacQai Long was under center for the next drive, but the defense forced a three-and-out, earning three points to lead 9-7.
Minchey was back under center for the next drive, that saw the Cats get to midfield. On a fourth-and-five, Minchey found Henry Boyer for a first down. Later, the Cats faced another fourth-and-five, Minchey connected with Ja’Kayden Ferguson for a first down. From the five, Minchey scrambled to the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The offense went for four points (from the 10 yard line), but the try failed, but the offense still led 13-12.
The Cats ran the next drive, simulating a two-minute drive, but the defense forced a three-and-out, earning three points to lead 15-13.
The next drive saw Minchey drive the Cats down the field, including a big pass play to tight end Willie Rodriguez. Kauwe came on for a 43-yard field goal, which was good, giving the offense a 16-15 lead at the half.
After halftime, Long led a drive that saw the offense get into the red zone. Shane Carr took a reverse, then hit Kenny Darby in the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was good and the offense took the lead back.
With the spring complete, Stein now looks ahead to the summer and the fall. How will he handle that?
“We we are going to do this summer, really continue to build repetitions at our core fundamental and base plays,” Stein said. “And then, as we hit fall, really develop that blue (first team) group as the group moving forward and the white group as the next group up. I think we made strides for sure. I’m pleased so far.”
Stein’s first spring as a head coach came to a successful close on Saturday, but preparation for the fall schedule is already underway.
