First Half Stats: Kentucky Snaps Touchdown Skid, Leads Ohio 17-0

by:Nick Roush•09/21/24•

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Kentucky RB Jamarion Wilcox vs Ohio, via Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Big Blue Nation is ready to see the Kentucky offense take flight. They had to be patient in the first half against Ohio.

The Wildcats went nine straight quarters without a touchdown. On its second offensive possession, Kentucky had a 1st and 5 on the 15-yard line. A penalty on second and inches, then a couple of failed QB draws stalled out the drive. Rather than go for it on 4th and 3, Alex Raynor kicked a 30-yard field goal, his 11th consecutive make. That tied a school record.

It was only 3-0 after one quarter. Fortunately, the tide turned on the first play of the second period. A dart from Brock Vandagriff to Dane Key on third and nine gave Demie Sumo-Karngbaye an easy one-yard touchdown.

Key was the big-play maker for the Cats, catching four passes for 109 receiving yards. DSK had two first-half scores, but Jamarion Wilcox led the way with 66 yards on the ground, thanks in large part to a pair of back-to-back 20-yard runs.

Vandagriff completed 10 of 13 passes for 164 yards. He led a two-minute drive from the 9-yard line that got the Cats in field goal range just before halftime. Instead of kicking the field goal, as they did a week ago against Georgia, Kentucky took a shot. Vandagriff was sacked and the field goal team couldn’t get on the field in time to add to the lead.

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“I wanted to kick the field goal on third down and everyone told me to go for it,” Mark Stoops told UK radio. “I should have gone with my gut. That’s on me.”

The Defense Finally Recovered a Fumble?

Kentucky dominated Ohio through the first few possessions, then things got hairy on a third and long. Nick Poulos scrambled for a first down on 3rd and 8. Three plays later, the Bobcats were in the red zone.

It looked like the defense finally got the play they were looking for. The Cats forced six fumbles over the last two weeks and recovered zero fumbles. D’Eryk Jackson stripped the ball loose inside the 10 and the Cats recovered it, but the turnover was overturned on replay.

Kentucky finally got some turnover luck four plays later when the handoff exchange was bobbled. JJ Weaver scooped the fumble cleanly, but couldn’t keep his feet. As he stumbled to the turf, he fumbled it briefly before recovering the ball.