Game Day Central: Kentucky vs. Murray State
Cat Walk
Pregame
1st Quarter
Murray State had the game’s first possession and the Racers quickly got to midfield, aided by a couple of UK penalties. However, Kentucky defensive back Jordan Lovett intercepted MSU’s Jayden Johannsen at the UK 33 yard line.
On the fourth play of the ensuing drive, Vandagriff went deep for freshman Hardley Gilmore, but the pass was underthrown. However, the MSU defensive back had it glance off his hands and into Gilmore’s, resulting in a 52-yard touchdown. Alex Raynor added the PAT and Kentucky led 7-0 with 11:09 left in the first quarter. The touchdown was the first of Gilmore’s career.
The UK defense forced MSU into a three-and-out and, after a penalty on the Racers during the punt return, Kentucky took over at its own 49 yard line. However, on the first play of the next drive, Vandagriff was intercepted by MSU’s KaVan Reed, who returned it to the MSU 46.
Again the UK defense forced a three-and-out and the Racers were forced to punt. Kentucky took over at it’s own 27 with 6:23 left in the first quarter.
The Cats would face a third and nine on the next drive before Vandagriff found Dane Key across the middle for a 26-yard gain, getting the Cats into Racers territory. Vandagriff would gain 22 yards on a scramble, getting the Cats to the MSU three yard line. On the next play, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye hit pay dirt with a three-yard touchdown rush. Raynor added the PAT and UK led 14-0 with 1:00 left in the quarter. That would be the score after 15 minutes of action.
2nd Quarter
Murray State would make one first down on its next drive and the Racers punted. The Cats would take over at their own 20 with 14:07 left in the half. However, a holding penalty foiled the drive and UK punted. The Racers took over at their own 19 yard line with 12:05 left in the half.
MSU would again get one first down, and would drive near midfield, before the UK defense forced another punt. Kentucky took over at its own eight yard line with 9:46 left in the half.
UK would put together a strong drive, one that included strong rushes by Wilcox of 32, 13 and 15 yards. The Cats would get deep into Murray State territory before the drive stalled and UK was forced into a 32-yard field goal attempt from Raynor. The kick was good and Kentucky led 17-0 with 5:27 to play in the half.
Murray State would move the ball into UK territory on its next drive, with a 44-yard pass from Jim Ogle to J’Kalon Carter doing a lot of the damage. However, the drive came to an end when Lovett intercepted Ogle at the UK nine yard line, ending the threat.
UK would go into its two-minute offense and Vandagriff got first-down receptions from Fred Farrier, Sumo-Karngbaye and Gilmore. With 17 seconds left in the half, Vandagriff found Ja’Mori Maclin in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown. Raynor again added the point after and the Cats led 24-0 just before the half. That would be the halftime score.
3rd Quarter
Kentucky got the ball to start the second half and true freshman Cutter Boley was under center. On his first pass of the game, Boley connected with tight end Josh Kattus for a 19-yard gain. Later in the drive, Boley connected with Key for a game of 18. On the next play, Wilcox rumbled for 20 yard, getting the Cats to the MSU four yard line. On the next play, Wilcox scored from four yards out, increasing the UK lead. Raynor added the point after and UK led 31-0 with 11:42 to play in the third quarter.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Boley kept the ball around left end for a 30-yard gain. Two plays later, Boley found Anthony Brown-Stephens across the middle for a 15-yard gain, getting the Cats to the MSU six yard line. However, an untimely penalty stalled the drive and UK ended up settling for a 26-yard Raynor field goal to take a 34-0 lead with 8:30 left in the third period.
Murray State would get on the board on its next drive. The Racers went 77 yards in 13 plays and got a 32-yard field goal from James London to cut the UK lead to 34-3 with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.
Kentucky fumbled on the subsequent kickoff and Murray State recovered, taking over at the UK 19 yard line with 32 seconds left in the third quarter.
4th Quarter
In the final stanza, the Racers added a field goal to cut the UK lead to 34-6.
The Cats would add a 22-yard touchdown pass from Boley to Brown-Stephens in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 41-6.
