Game Day Central: Kentucky vs. Iowa
Cat Walk/Pregame
1st Quarter
Kentucky got the ball first with true freshman Destin Wade at quarterback. After getting one first down, the Cats were forced to punt.
Iowa earned three first downs on its first possession but on fourth-and-two from the UK 33, Jordan Lovett broke up the Joey Labas pass, giving UK possession with 8:48 remaining in the first period.
Kentucky would get into Iowa territory on its second drive before being forced to punt. Iowa got a 34-yard return from Cooper DeJean and took over at its own 40 with 5:14 to play in the first. Iowa could do nothing with the possession and was forced to punt.
The Cats took over at their own one with 2:59 left in the first. The Cats went three-and-out and were forced to punt again, with Iowa taking over at the UK 46. The first quarter would end in a scoreless tie.
2nd Quarter
Kentucky’s defense stood tall again, forcing another Iowa punt. The Cats took over at their own seven yard line with 14:46 left in the first half.
The Cats would go three-and-out again, punting the ball back to the Hawkeyes with 13:02 to play in the half.
Iowa got on the board first on its next possession. The Hawkeyes needed just two plays to cover 42 yards, with the scoring play being a 15-yard touchdown pass from Labas to Luke Lachey. Drew Stevens added the PAT and Iowa led 7-0 with 12:08 left in the half.
On UK’s next possession, Wade was intercepted by Xavier Nwankpa, who returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. Stevens added the PAT and Iowa led 14-0 with 11:57 left in the half.
Kentucky punted again on its next possession, and Iowa did the same with its next possession.
Just before the half, Wade was intercepted by DeJean, who returned it 14 yards for a touchdown. Stevens added the extra point and Iowa led 21-0. That would be the halftime score.
3rd Quarter
Iowa got the ball first in the second half but the Hawkeyes could do nothing with the possession and were forced to punt. It would be the first of five consecutive drives, two by each team, that ended in punts. At the end of the third period, Kentucky was driving in Iowa territory.
