Blue Team Tops White Squad in Kentucky Football Spring Game
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Kavosiey Smoke rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries, and A.J. Rose carried for 86 yards and three scores as the Blue team topped the White squad 64-10 in the Kentucky Blue-White Game, presented by Kroger, on Friday night at Kroger Field.
Junior quarterback Terry Wilson had an efficient game behind center, connecting on 10 of 12 passes for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Gunnar Hoak, who saw the most time at quarterback in the game while playing for both teams, was 23 of 30 through the air for 262 yards and two touchdowns.
Freshman Bryce Oliver led all receivers with eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Epps caught four passes for 97 yards, while Lynn Bowden, Jr. caught four passes for 66 yards and a score.
Defensively, Davonte Robinson led all tacklers with eight stops, including five solo tackles. Freshman Jared Casey had seven tackles, while Jordan Wright and Yusuf Corker each had an interception in the game.
The Blue team took the game’s opening drive and marched 70 yards in five plays, culminating with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Bowden. Chance Poore added the PAT to make it 7-0 Blue Team with 7:52 left in the first quarter.
After the White team was forced to punt, the Blue team drove down the field again, aided by a 42-yard scamper from Rose, taking the ball into the red zone. Rose would cap the drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge, and after Poore’s extra point, the Blue team led 14-0 with 2:01 left in the first period.
The White team punted on its second possession, giving the ball back to the Blue team, who wasted little time in scoring. Wilson connected with Epps on a 60-yard pass play. On the next play, Justin Rigg caught the pass from Wilson for a 24-yard touchdown making the score with the extra point, 21-0. That would be the score after the first quarter.
After a White team turnover, the Blue team saw its drive stall, forcing a 52-yard field goal that Poore drilled, increasing the Blue team’s lead to 24-0 with 11:09 left in the first half.
The White team managed to earn its initial first down of the game on the ensuing drive, but was once again forced to punt. This time, the Blue team needed just one play, an 87-yard run by Smoke, to score. Poore’s PAT made it 31-0 Blue team with 8:22 remaining in the half.
On its next drive, the White team mounted its first significant drive of the game, taking the ball into the red zone on a 28-yard pass from Hoak to Oliver. The White team would get inside the five yard line, then would score on a two-yard rush by Rodriguez. Matt Ruffalo added the PAT, cutting the Blue team’s lead to 31-7.
The Blue team had an answer, driving 70 yards in eight plays, capped by a three-yard Rose touchdown. Poore was perfect on the PAT and the Blue team increased its lead to 38-7 with 1:05 left in the half. That would be the halftime score.
In the second half, the White team got the ball first and promptly drove into the red zone, sparked by a fantastic catch from Oliver. But the drive stalled, and the White team was forced into a 36-yard field goal by Ruffalo, which he converted, cutting the Blue team’s lead to 38-10 with 4:56 left in the third period.
The Blue team responded with a 70-yard touchdown drive, with Rose again hitting pay dirt, this time on a one-yard score, giving the Blue a commanding 45-10 lead with 2:45 remaining in the third period.
In the fourth period, Hoak threw to Oliver for an eight yard touchdown to add to the Blue team’s lead with Poore making the extra point to bring the score to 52-10. After an interception by Wright, Hoak threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Ahmad Wagner to make the score 58-10. Smoke added a five-yard touchdown run on the final play of the game to make it 64-10.
The Kroger Blue-White Spring Game marks the end of spring practice for the Wildcats, who will open the 2019 regular season at home, facing Toledo on August 31 at Kroger Field.
