Ali’s Patience Rewarded with Game-Winning TD
Josh Ali expected his junior season to bring an opportunity for a breakout.
Instead, like his fellow wide receivers, Ali found himself having to sacrifice touches for the good of the team as UK rebuilt its offense around Lynn Bowden Jr. in the wake of injuries at quarterback.
No one – Ali included – batted an eye, questioned the decision, or balked at the idea of serving as blockers and decoys for all but a couple plays a game.
But when the moment came, and the most crucial of the season to boot, Ali was ready. He caught the game-winning touchdown in the Belk Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
“It meant everything,” Ali said. “It also meant that I was prepared for the situation and any day. It came. This was the big game and I made it happen.”
Even as UK broke the huddle following a timeout with 15 seconds left and trailing Virginia Tech 30-24, it seemed that moment wouldn’t come. Bowden had successfully lobbied to throw a jump ball to Ahmad Wagner, but a pre-snap read told him that wasn’t the way to go.
“I checked Josh to a post, because he’s the best route runner on our team,” Bowden said. “You’re going to one-on-one him? He plays in the SEC every week against the best corners there is in America. I saw him break in and I just threw the ball up. That’s my guy, so he went and made a play for me.”
He sure did.
“I knew it was one-on-one,” Ali said. “I trusted my skills, I trusted my training and I already had a move that I wanted to do off the ball before the play started. I knew what I wanted to do and that’s what I did.”
As Ali made his move, Bowden fluttered a pass into his path. Ali ran under it for a touchdown and Matt Ruffolo followed it up with the extra point to give UK the lead. The defense made it stand up by forcing a fumble Jordan Wright returned for a touchdown to seal a 37-30 win.
And none of it would have happened had Ali not made another huge play on UK’s final 18-play, eight plus-minute drive. It came on 4th-and-7 as Bowden rolled out and delivered a pass Ali dove and secured to prolong the drive.
“It was big,” Ali said. “Lynn rolled out. I knew I was the only guy over there to get the first down, so he threw it and I made the catch.”
For the game, Ali had 52 yards on four catches, both the highest totals for a UK receiver since Bowden had seven catches for 129 yards against Mississippi State weeks before his move to QB. That left little opportunity for other receivers, as UK completed only six passes on the afternoon. True to form, they didn’t bat an eye, Wagner included.
“Ahmad, he and I just shared a hug in there,” Mark Stoops said. “He’s like, ‘I love you, Coach. I love our experience.’ I said, ‘Man, I’m sorry we couldn’t get you the ball.’ He said, ‘I don’t care.’ You gotta love that and have great appreciation for all those guys.”
Though Wagner will depart, most of UK’s receivers will return next season when the offense makes a return to a less run-heavy approach. Sensing opportunity, Ali will be ready.
“I’m very excited,” Ali said. “I can’t wait. Me myself, I’m locked in. Right after I come back, I’m locked in, I’m working out, I’m training and everything.”
Individual success is important to Ali, but the fate of his team will remain at the forefront of his mind. He and his fellow receivers have proven that all season long.
“I really want us to be better than the team last year,” Ali said. “I want to do more. I want to go to a bigger bowl. I just want more.”
