No, it wasn’t pretty. But after the dust settles and the head-scratching stops, the University of Kentucky football team can say it is 2-0, a statement many other teams cannot make.For all of the dropped passes, missed assignments, turnovers and plain old bad plays, the Wildcats kept their heads up, never panicked and leave their home opener at Commonwealth Stadium with a 27-13 victory and a second half performance they can build off.In the beginning, it was ugly. Kentucky’s time of possession at halftime barely spanned over one-third of the 30 minutes played, the Wildcats had been outgained by 133 yards and mustered just 94 yards. Kentucky converted on just one third down and only had six first downs to show for itself.”Last week we probably played the worst game we could play offensively,” UK junior quarterback Morgan Newton said. “This week we probably played the second to worst game we could play offensively. But we made things happen and we’re 2-0.”I know as well as everybody that if we come out and play like we did in the first game and first half of this game – I don’t know how long we’re going to be unblemished.”Well, thanks to a few stellar plays on the offensive side of the ball in the second half, and a defense that clamped down after having been slapped in the face the entire first quarter and partway into the second, the Wildcats can say they’re unblemished and that’s what’s most important for UK fans.Give credit to the Central Michigan Chippewas, they came out fighting, accumulating 228 yards on their first three drives, spanning 15:49 on 37 plays and putting 13 points on the board. But in the game’s next 42 plays and 10 drives, Central Michigan gained just 170 yards, took 18:37 off the clock, turned the ball over two times and never scored.”Our defense played outstanding after the third series,” UK head coach Joker Phillips said. “I think they scored on the first three series, and after that our defense threw a shutout, which is what we expect for those guys.”So while it looked bad at the beginning, when looking back on the game you have to ask yourself whether you’re a glass half-empty type of person, or half-full. If you’re a half-empty person you say, ‘Wow, Central Michigan scored on each of its first three drives and passed and ran at will.’ If you’re a half-full person you say, ‘The Kentucky defense held Central Michigan to just 170 yards and zero points in the final 40:20 of the game.'”We just started adjusting to what they were doing,” senior linebacker Danny Trevathan said. “They were checking a lot, kind of motioning a lot, and there’s going to be teams that do that to the type of defense that we play. I think our defense is suited well where we can adjust well to those types of things. … Guys just leaned on each other and made plays and we trusted each other.”Early on it looked as though Kentucky’s offense was still in Nashville, Tenn., with dropped passes, missed throws and a non-existent running game that put together just 23 yards on the ground in the first half. But again, Kentucky rebounded and put together a second half they can be proud of.Junior wide receiver La’Rod King finished with five receptions for a career-high 100 yards and a touchdown. Freshman running back Josh Clemons had 14 rushes for 126 yards, including the longest run by a freshman in program history, an 87-yard touchdown scamper that swung the game in Kentucky’s favor by giving them a 20-13 lead.”Like last week, it wasn’t pretty, but we found a way to get it done,” said Clemons who spoke glowingly after the game with a smile from ear to ear. “This week, not a good first half, got some inspiration at halftime, and we just went out there and played like a team. Defense held us in there and the offense found a way to score.”And that’s just it; Kentucky showed at the end of the game what they are capable of. As rough as it was in the first half, it was equally clean in the second half, and that’s what the Wildcats and Big Blue fans must remember. With in-state rival Louisville coming to town Sept. 17, all hands will need to be on deck.”I think definitely there was progress,” Phillips said. “We definitely played better. We didn’t play very clean in the first half, but I thought we played pretty clean in the second half.”Some of the progress Phillips is talking about comes from Newton. The Kentucky quarterback showed more confidence in the second half and showed off his wheels, rushing for a career-high 43 yards on 13 carries, including a one-yard touchdown run off a naked bootleg on fourth and goal with under six minutes to go in the game.Those plays, that energy and that confidence is what Kentucky will be looking to build upon.”I think this was a really good team win,” Phillips said. “That’s what we have to see.”They say there’s no such thing as an ugly (win). Well, we just had another not so pretty win,” Phillips said. “But we are 2 0. Probably about a third of the teams across the country are 2 0. We found a way to win this one.”And isn’t that the most important statement a team can make?