Kentucky Blanks Southern Miss in 2024 Season Opener
Brock Vandagriff passed for three touchdowns and the Kentucky defense was stout all night as the Cats beat Southern Miss 31-0 in a weather-shortened season opener at Kroger Field.
Vandagriff, making his first career start, connected on 12 of 18 passing for 169 yards and those three scores. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye rushed eight times for 59 yards and a score. The UK defense held Southern Miss to just 131 yards and no points.
Kentucky took the opening kickoff and, after a good return by freshman Willie Rodriguez, the Cats started at their own 48 yard line. The Cats would drive deep into Southern Miss territory before Vandagriff’s pass intended for Ja’Mori Maclin was tipped and intercepted by the Golden Eagles’ Dylan Lawrence at the USM 15.
On the second play of the Southern Miss drive, UK linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson intercepted a Tate Rodemaker pass and the Cats took over at their own 41.
Kentucky would get on the board on the ensuing drive. Big plays by Maclin, Sumo-Karngbaye and Vandagriff propelled the offense down the field. UK covered 59 yards in 10 plays, ending with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Vandagriff to Barion Brown. Alex Raynor added the point after and the Cats led 7-0 with 6:03 remaining in the first quarter.
On the next possession, it appeared that the Cats were going to force a Southern Miss punt but a Rodemaker pass to Kyirin Heath went for a 34-yard gain and the Golden Eagles were near midfield with a new set of downs. The USM drive would continue into the red zone as the first quarter came to a close with the Cats leading 7-0.
As the second quarter started, the Golden Eagles appeared ready to tie the game. But Rodemaker’s pass was tipped by D’Eryk Jackson and intercepted by J.Q. Hardaway in the end zone, ending the threat.
The Cats would go to Sumo-Karngbaye on the next drive, and he would deliver. Rushes of 10, 22 and three yards got the Cats into Southern Miss territory. However, the drive would stall and the Cats would be forced to punt.
A Wilson Berry punt pinned Southern Miss inside their own 10, and the UK defense forced a three-and-out on the following possession. The Cats would get excellent field possession after a 23-yard USM punt.
Kentucky started its drive from the USM 36 yard line, but the Cats were not able to get a first down. UK would add to its lead when Raynor converted a 41-yard field goal, giving Kentucky a 10-0 advantage with 7:45 left in the first half.
The Kentucky defense would force another three-and-out on the next Southern Miss possession, with a Tre’vonn Rybka sack on third down forcing another change in possession.
UK took over at its own 25 yard line and Vandagriff connected with Dane Key for a 35-yard strike across the middle, getting the Cats into Southern Miss territory. The Cats then got three solid runs from Jamarion Wilcox (10 yards) and Jason Patterson (12 and 11 yards). The Cats would finish the drive with a one-yard touchdown rush from Sumo-Karngbaye. The Raynor PAT made it 17-0 with 3:07 to play in the half.
The Cats’ defense forced another three-and-out on the next USM possession. On fourth down, the Golden Eagles attempted a fake punt, but UK’s Cam Dooley sniffed it out, made the tackle and the Cats took over at the Southern Miss 29 with 1:52 left in the half.
UK would take advantage of the good field possession, covering 29 yards in just three plays, ending with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Vandagiff to Brown. Raynor made another PAT and the Cats led 24-0 with 31 seconds left in the half. That would be the halftime score.
Southern Miss got the first possession of the third quarter and the Golden Eagles promptly marched into UK territory. However, the UK defense again stopped the drive and forced another USM punt.
Kentucky would mount another scoring drive on its next possession. A Vandagriff to Maclin pass for 46 yards set the Cats up at the Southern Miss eight yard line. Two plays later, Vandagriff connected with tight end Jordan Dingle for a five-yard scoring pass. When Raynor added the point after, Kentucky led 31-0 with 9:56 left in the third quarter.
At that point, the game was delayed, and ultimately stopped, due to lightning in the area.
Kentucky returns to action on Saturday, hosting South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on ABC.
