Unfazed by Early Deficit, Cats Run Past Vandy
Kentucky was ripping off big runs left and right, but somehow the Wildcats were in a first-quarter hole anyway.
Refusing to buckle, the Cats just kept on running.
“It would be easy for some people to panic or the guys to panic if they didn’t confidence in what we were going to do,” Mark Stoops said. “Because, let’s face it: We’re methodical right now.”
After facing an early 14-3 deficit following a fumble return touchdown by host Vanderbilt, UK stuck to its guns and delivered a thoroughly dominant – and yes, methodical – performance. The Wildcats (5-5, 3-5 SEC) rolled to 402 yards rushing and a 38-14 victory over the Commodores (2-8, 1-6 SEC).
“We faced adversity early,” Stoops said. “It’s one of those deals where you’re frustrated, you feel like you’re in complete control, but they get a strip, fumble, touchdown and that can flip momentum very easily. Our team didn’t flinch. We went right back out there and methodically took care of business.”
It was no one-man show by Lynn Bowden Jr. either. The wide receiver turned quarterback certainly got his, but he was flanked by an arsenal of productive backs.
“If they want to key on me, there are three good backs back there,” Bowden said. “They gotta pick and choose.”
Running back Chris Rodriguez followed up a breakout performance last weekend with an ever better one Saturday. Rodriguez, rapidly emerging late this season, ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns a week after he went for 81. Kavosiey Smoke, meanwhile, ran for 95 yards and a touchdown on his own. The two true freshman classmates stepped up after starting running back A.J. Rose lost that fumble early and didn’t waste their opportunities.
“Just some of the runs they made today I haven’t necessarily seen,” Stoops said. “You’ve seen flashes. You’ve seen them do some really good things. But today some runs they kind of took over.”
No matter how well those backs play, however, it still all starts with Bowden.
In his fifth start at QB, Bowden ran for another 110 yards and a touchdown to bring his total over that stretch to 723. Bowden also had his best day as a passer, completing 8-of-10 passes for 110 yards and another score, as UK’s air attack kept Vandy on its heels.
“You really have to give him the credit he deserves because it’s not easy,” Stoops said. “It’s not just some athlete back there making plays. He’s doing some amazing things. He really is.”
By the week, Bowden’s junior season becomes more remarkable. Already UK’s leading rusher, receiver and kick returner, it’s not out of the question he could pass Sawyer Smith as the team’s leading passer if his improvement in that area continues over the final two games of the regular season and a potential bowl.
Bowden is truly one of a kind and his statistics reflect that reality, but he’s hardly concerned with and of that. The scoreboard is all that’s ever mattered to him.
“It’s a big, important win for us,” Bowden said. “We’re just trying to accomplish our goals. Our fans came out and supported us. We fell down a little early. I think we just fought through adversity. We’re some fighters, like I’ve always been saying. That’s what we’re going to keep doing.”
