Offense Returns the Favor as UK Survives Mizzou
Fresh off a game in which Kentucky’s defense carried the Wildcats to victory, Mark Stoops knew at some point or another his offense would have to do the same.
“There’s gonna be games when we’re going to have to outscore people,” Stoops said at his weekly press conference on Monday.
He just might not have expected one was going to happen immediately.
With Missouri repeatedly gashing UK for big plays with its fast-paced attack, it was down to the offense to lift the Cats to 5-1 (2-1 Southeastern Conference). Stephen Johnson, Benny Snell, Garrett Johnson and company were able to do exactly that in a nerve-wracking 40-34 victory by piling up a season-high 486 yards.
“Tonight, if we didn’t have the big offensive plays, and they didn’t score points, we wouldn’t have won the game,” Stoops said. “So other times, other games, the defense had to step up or special teams. And we’re all in this together, it’s a great group, we’re far from perfect, but we definitely play for each other and believe in each other and that’s good to see.”
That belief was tested on Saturday night at Kroger Field, with the visiting Tigers (1-4, 0-3 SEC) twice overcoming 13-point first-half deficits. Drew Lock tossed three touchdowns of 50 yards or more, the last of which coming from 75 yards and tying the game at 34-all. UK was able to respond with a pair of field goals from newly minted all-time leading scorer Austin MacGinnis.
“We haven’t been perfect, we lost one, but you’ve seen us fight back from adversity and that’s the way this team’s built right now,” Stoops said. “It’s going to be tough, hard fought-games. And that’s the way most of this league is. Y’all see it. Y’all see — take a look around, I mean, it’s tough. So I’m just proud of the way our team fights back from some tough situations and most of our games are going to be 60-minute games.”
Of late, UK has been taking that 60-minute game thing to the extreme. For the second straight week, the Cats survived a Hail Mary as time expired, which comes on the heels of that heartbreaking finish against Florida that needs no more rehashing. With an attitude of refusing to blink no matter the circumstances, UK is finding a way to win games that have historically been losses in Lexington.
“That’s just been our mentality: just don’t flinch,” UK’s quarterback said. “We know what we can do on offense. We know the things we have planned. So it’s just us executing our plays and that’s about it.”
Stephen Johnson threw a career-high 36 passes against Mizzou, completing 22 for 298 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 11 rushes for 44 yards, the last seven coming on a keeper punctuated by a memorable vault over a Tiger defender.
“Really tough,” Stoops said. “I saw him picking himself up off the field several times and I saw him have tough runs at times and just doing what he had to do and really played some very good football and put us in a position once again to win the game.”
It isn’t just the way he plays that puts UK in position to win, according to Stephen Johnson’s favorite target.
“He’s a leader,” said Garrett Johnson, who caught seven passes for 111 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown. “He’s a leader that you want. He’s somebody you would want as your quarterback. His poise and just calm demeanor when he’s in there even when things aren’t happening, just the way he handles things, it makes you want to follow his way.”
Also benefiting from Stephen Johnson’s steady presence is Snell, the gifted but high self-critical featured back in UK’s rushing attack. Snell admitted to feeling some frustration last week as he struggled to find holes against Eastern Michigan and his per-carry average hovered below four yards, but he looked more like himself against Mizzou.
Snell carried 20 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns against the Tigers.
“I feel like I got it back, but I still got a lot of work to do,” Snell said. “I still can’t be comfortable. I can’t be comfortable. I gotta stay uncomfortable. I gotta stay trying to learn. I gotta make sure my cut’s faster, I read better. There’s things I gotta get better at with myself, but we showed a lot in the run game today.”
That run game paved the way for a win, just as UK’s pass rush did the week prior.
“It was beautiful to see the offense respond,” Stoops said. “And as I’ve said in here, and y’all heard me and you can quote me, the strength of our team is our team. That’s not coach-speak BS. That’s the truth. We do what we have to do to win games.”
UK has done exactly that through six weeks, succeeding five times in seemingly progressively more heart-stopping fashion. Now, having played six games decided by a grand total of 39 points, the Cats have a well-deserved bye this week.
“This bye comes at a perfect time for us,” Stoops said. “We absolutely need it at this point. They played their hearts out for six straight weeks and it’s a good opportunity for to us catch our breath there for a minute.”
Those deep breaths will come with some reflection, both on a 5-1 start to the season and what the Cats will need to do to make the second half of the year successful.
“It’s incredible,” Stephen Johnson said. “Our locker room is just—everybody’s overjoyed, ready to keep playing football. We’re all really excited and just happy with where we’re at. Knowing we can do a whole lot better, but we’re really happy with how things are going.”
