Citrus Bowl After Action Review

An After Action Review, or AAR for short, is a military process used to analyze what happened, why it happened, and how it can be done better. Thanks to our friends at the Kentucky Army National Guard, KSR applies that concept to analyze the Wildcats. Here is the breakdown of the Citrus Bowl. 

B.L.U.F. (Bottom Line Up Front)

Kentucky defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 20-17 to win the Citrus Bowl and finish the 2021 season with a 10-3 record. The Wildcats’ 2021 focus was “For the Team.” The Citrus Bowl victory personified the saying that was inspired by the great John Schlarman. 

OVERVIEW

The Citrus Bowl win was a Mark Stoops’ culture victory. The ‘Cats were down seven players due to injury or COVID-19 and didn’t flinch. Stoops’ team fought for 60 minutes and displayed a level of toughness befitting the head coach that has changed the program’s trajectory. 

The Wildcats relied on a depleted defense to hold the Big Ten West Division Champions to 17 points. Brad White’s unit had a couple of game-changing stops down the stretch as well, particularly a decisive interception from a hobbled DeAndre Square. Offensive stars shined bright on the final drive of the game. Will Levis connected with Wan’Dale Robinson for multiple catches. The series was capped off by a Chris Rodriguez Jr. scoring run from six yards out to push the score to 20-17. Here’s how the ‘Cats fared against pregame goals. 

OFFENSE 

Kentucky managed 354 total yards and 20 points against Iowa’s Top-15 defense. The Cats started the game hot by scoring the first time it possessed the football but failed to score touchdowns on two Red Zone trips. Iowa had control of momentum and disrupted the Big Blue Wall, which was down Dare Rosenthal and led to guard Kenneth Horsey moving out to left tackle. The Hawkeyes registered nine tackles for loss and six quarterback sacks and limited the ‘Cats to 4.7 yards per play. 

Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. extended his 100-yard game streak by rushing for 107 against a stingy Iowa defense. Will Levis completed 61% of his passes for 283 yards and one touchdown. The star of the game was receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. He saved his best for last during UK’s eight-play, 80-yard game-winning scoring drive late in the fourth quarter. Robinson recorded 10 receptions for 170 yards and was the most dynamic player on the football field. Let’s take a look at pregame goals. 

Protect the football-YES

Kentucky entered the Citrus Bowl with a -13 turnover margin which ranked 127^th in the nation. Iowa had intercepted 24 passes and recovered six fumbles this season. While not perfect, Iowa managed to intercept one Levis pass for the Wildcats’ lone turnover. 

Red Zone touchdowns-NO

UK upped its Red Zone touchdowns from 17-37 prior to Saturday’s contest. The Wildcats settled for two first-half field goals inside the Hawkeyes’ twenty. 

DEFENSE

Iowa rolled up 384 total yards and 17 points. Quarterback Spencer Petras completed 63% of his passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted three times. The Hawkeyes were without the services of 1000-yard rusher Tyler Goodson. Gavin Williams filled in nicely after rushing for 98 yards. The Hawkeyes had given up a high number of tackles for loss and quarterback sacks going into the contest. The Wildcats failed to capitalize after registering zero sacks and just two TFL’s. 

The fourth-quarter scoring drive is the headline of the Citrus Bowl. However, UK’s gritty defensive performance down the stretch was a deciding factor in the victory. Down multiple starters and relying on depth players, Brad White’s unit executed stops and limited Iowa to seven points shy of its game scoring average. 

Veterans also starred in critical junctures of the game. Injured linebacker DeAndre Square’s interception sealed the deal. Edge defender Jordan Wright led the team with 10 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup. Safety Yusuf Corker’s pressure helped assist Square’s pick. Marquan McCall excelled against All-American center Tyler Linderbaum and earned himself some money in the upcoming NFL Draft. Let’s compare goals to results. 

Be tough-YES 

There’s no one tougher than Square and D’Eryk Jackson. Jackson fought his way back from a significant spring injury to make seven stops and one interception. A youthful group of defensive linemen clawed their way through 60 minutes which bodes well for the future. The Citrus Bowl was meaningful to both teams. They played that way to create one of the more physical postseason games to date. The fight for the most physical logo on the field was a draw. 

Guard the middle-NO

This goal was somewhat deceiving and was meant to indicate the importance of slowing Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta over the middle of the field. LaPorta was great and caught passes all over the yard. He registered seven receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown. Iowa has a history of producing tight ends to the NFL. LaPorta is next.  

Nothing cheap-YES 

Iowa earned its points. The ‘Cats didn’t get hurt by a trick play or a cheap touchdown. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kentucky was facing one of the top special team units in the country. The Cats were solid in the third phase. 

Cover, cover, cover-YES

Returner Charlie Jones is an All-Big Ten performer that didn’t factor. Coverage teams were excellent and were aided by the kicking game. 

Make kicks-YES

Matt Ruffolo was perfect on the day. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Mark Stoops won 10 games for the second time in four years. The Wildcats won its fourth consecutive bowl game. The only other team to accumulate that number of bowl wins is Alabama. The stakes have been raised. Postseason games are now the norm. Saturday was a culture win. UK went toe-to-toe with a physical 10-win Big Ten team in a legal slugfest between the chalks. At times, a roster was necessary in order to identify defensive players on the field. Unfamiliar names and jersey numbers were key contributors including defensive end Tre’Vonn Rybka, who finished the game with four tackles and a critical tackle for loss. 

Wan’Dale Robinson is a superstar. The UK commit turned Nebraska signee was embraced by the staff even after his deflection. Robinson returned home and produced the most electric season for a receiver in program history. Quarterback Will Levis was aggravated by a forceful Iowa pass rush for a great portion of the contest. But when it mattered, the signal-caller executed a game-winning eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive to bring the trophy back to Lexington. 

A bowl win sets the tone and mood for the offseason. Departing veterans cemented their status in program lore and youthful contributors learned valuable lessons on how to achieve at a high level. Looking forward, the 2022 Wildcats will have a chance. A chance for what is yet to be seen. But, a star quarterback and both coordinators are in place, and that alone provides Stoops a great deal of eagerness for next season. 

The BBN traveled and showed out. The ultra-passionate fan base is being rewarded for decades of mediocrity during which it never wavered. “For the Team” was this year’s focus and was inspired by the great John Schlarman. DeAndre Square’s game-saving interception on one leg personified the mantra. 

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I’d like to thank you all for following along during the 2021 season. Football state. 

A message from the Kentucky Army National Guard, The Kentucky Army National Guard is YOUR Kentucky home team.  The Soldiers of the Kentucky National Guard are your friends, neighbors, coworkers and classmates.  We are from each county in Kentucky and we stand together to support our fellow Kentuckians in times of natural disaster and civil unrest.  We also serve our nation at the direction of the president should the need for national defense arise.  Soldiers in the Kentucky Army National Guard are able to take advantage of opportunities in education with trade skill training, student loan repayment and up to $60,000 in tuition assistance to state public universities while serving part time.  Do you think you have what it takes to be a member of our team? For more information about joining the Kentucky Army National Guard, Text “KYGUARD” to 95577.  Live Here, Serve Here, Kentucky Army National Guard.