Cats Overcome Slow Start to Top Vandy on Saturday
Saturday’s game did not get off to a great start for 12th-ranked Kentucky. But good teams find a way to win when things don’t go exactly as planned, and the Cats did just that in a 34-17 win over Vanderbilt.
The Cats had two possessions in the first quarter. The first one was a three-and-out with UK gaining just eight yards and having the ball for only 2:24. The second possession was worse, with Kentucky gaining just six yards, going three-and-out and possessing the ball for just 59 seconds.
Meanwhile, the UK defense was doing everything it could to keep the Cats in the game. Still, Kentucky found itself trailing 10-0 early in the second quarter.
However, the UK offense came to life after that. In the second quarter. The Cats marched 75 yards in seven plays and got a nine-yard touchdown pass from Kenny Minchey to D.J. Miller to cut the deficit to 10-7.
UK’s next drive, which ended just before the half, also produced a touchdown. The 13-play, 79 yard drive ended with a one-yard touchdown rush from Willie Rodriguez, giving the Cats a 14-10 lead.
In the third quarter, the Cats threw a surprise at the Commodores. UK went 75 yards in eight plays, ending with a 10-yard touchdown rush by reserve quarterback Brennen Ward, who carried the ball for the first time in his career. The score pushed the lead to 21-10.
Vanderbilt would cut into the lead with a touchdown, but the Cats still led 21-17.
Kentucky responded on its next drive, covering 46 yards in 10 plays and ending with a 47-yard field goal from Adam Zouagui to stretch the lead to 24-17.
After the defense created a turnover, the Cats scored again, and it was Zouagui again, this time from 32 yards out, making it 27-17.
And later in the fourth quarter, the Cats sealed the win with a 13-play, 47-yard drive that ended with a one-yard plunge from Minchey to give UK a 34-17 advantage.
Kentucky finished the game with 376 yards of total offense, which came with a nice balance. The Cats passed for 203 yards and rushed for 173. UK head coach Will Stein likes where his team is at this point in the season.
“We have complete buy-in,” Stein said. “It’s not always perfect, but I think we’re in a really good spot mentally right now.”
Things got off to a slow start for Kentucky on Saturday, but the Cats bounced back and found a way to win, despite early offensive struggles. Winning when not at one’s best is the sign of a good football team, and Stein continues to tell everyone that Kentucky is a good football team. At 7-1 and sitting atop the Southeastern Conference standings, it’s hard to argue with Stein’s logic.
