Sept. 4, 2014
After posting the most points scored in a season opener since 1998 and a defensive effort limiting UT Martin to just 14 points on two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the University of Kentucky football team is looking to keep its winning ways alive as it plays host to Mid-American Conference foe Ohio on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET inside Commonwealth Stadium.
 
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| Kentucky vs. Ohio | ||
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| Sat., Sept. 6 – 3:30 p.m. ET Lexington, Ky. Gameday Information Game Notes: UK  | Ohio |
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| Coverage | ||
| TV: ESPNU Radio: UK Sports Network Live Video via WatchESPN Gameday Live : Live audio, blog, stats, and social media Text Updates |
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| UK | 2014 Team Stats | Ohio |
| 59.0 | Scoring/game | 17.0 |
| 24.0 | First downs/game | 20.0 |
| 656.0 | Total offense/game | 437.0 |
| 234.0 | Rushing yards/game | 175.0 |
| 422.0 | Passing yards/game | 262.0 |
| 25.0 | Kickoff returns (avg) | 0.0 |
| 6.5 | Punt returns (avg) | 18.0 |
| 46.0 | Punting (avg) | 42.5 |
| 23:42 | Time of possession/game | 29:40 |
| 57.1 | Third down conversion (pct) | 50.0 |
| 50.0 | Fourth down conversion (pct) | 100.0 |
| +5.0 | Turnover margin/game | -4.0 |
| 14.0 | Points allowed/game | 14.0 |
| 398.0 | Total yards allowed/game | 295.0 |
| 183.0 | Rush yards allowed/game | 31.0 |
| 215.0 | Pass yards allowed/game | 264.0 |
Kentucky showed the improvements the coaching staff has talked about on both sides of the ball, posting its largest margin of victory in a game since 2002. The Wildcat offense posted the fourth-highest total offense output in school history with 656 yards, while the UK defense forced five turnovers in a game for the first time since 2008.
The Wildcats’ attention now turns to the Ohio Bobcats, who posted a thrilling 17-14 vicotry over Kent State in its season opener with a field goal at the end of regulation. UK and Ohio have not met since 2004 with UK leading the all-time series 3-2 with all five games played in Lexington.
Cat Scratches: UK’s undivided attention on Ohio entering next test
Neal Brown knows Kentucky football.
He grew up a UK fan and followed the program even as he moved up the collegiate coaching ranks as a bright young offensive mind at stops across the country.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Brown is well aware of the Wildcats’ history with their opponent this weekend.
“I very much know what happened the last time they rolled in here to town, so we’ll be ready to roll,” Brown said.
That last time was in 2004, when the Bobcats came into Commonwealth Stadium and posted a 28-16 victory. UK (1-0) is in a very different place now than it was 10 years ago during Rich Brooks’ second season, but the lesson learned on that day still holds true.
Accordingly, UK is intently focused on Ohio heading into a matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, not that Mark Stoops needed a past game as a reminder.
“My team, myself, we definitely can’t take anybody for granted,” Stoops said. “We’re at that stage where we need to play well no matter who we’re playing.” … read the full preview
Scouting Ohio
Ohio is coming off a thrilling 17-14 season-opening victory over Mid-American Conference foe Kent State last weekend. The Bobcats took the final three and a half minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter before nailing a 44-yard field goal at the end of regulation to post the win. The win marked the Ohio’s fourth season-opening victory in the last five seasons. The Bobcats are one of just 21 teams in the nation that have played in five straight bowl games.
Junior quarterback Derrius Vick led the Bobcat offense going 18-of-24 for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Vick also rushed for 35 yards on eight carries. Junior running back Daz’mond Patterson led the team in rushing with 61 yards on 17 carries, while freshman running back A.J. Ouellette had 28 yards on six carries. Ohio wide receivers Brendan Cope and Landon Smith each had 71 yards receiving with Cope catching two balls and Smith seven, including two for touchdowns. The Bobcats outgained Kent State in total yards 437-295.
The OU defense limited Kent State to just 295 yards of total offense in the game, allowing 17 first downs and only 31 rushing yards on 22 carries. The Bobcats had two sacks, six tackles for loss and four pass breakups in the game. Junior linebacker Jovon Johnson paced the defense with 11 tackles, including two tackles for loss, while junior Devin Bass had seven tackles. Linebakcer Quentin Poling had a solo sack in the game, while cornerbacks Devin Jones and Ian Wells each had two pass breakups.
On special teams, kicker junior Josiah Yazdani made both of his extra points and won the game with a 44-yard field goal at the end of regulation. Punter Mitch Bonnistetter handled the punting, launching four punts for a 42.5 average, while Patterson returned one punt for 18 yards.
