Kentucky clinches winning SEC record with victory at Vanderbilt

Kentucky Football snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, 34-17. The win also clinched the program’s second winning season in the Southeastern Conference since 1977. Debby Boone had the No. 1 song in America back then with “You Light Up My Life.”

Kentucky lit up the scoreboard early at Vandy with touchdowns on its first three possessions of the game: throws from Will Levis to Wan’Dale Robinson and Izayah Cummings, and one rushing TD for Chris Rodriguez. Rodriguez crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 90 before halftime.

The defense also joined in on the fun with sophomore safety Jalen Geiger’s 31-yard pick-6 of Ken Seals’ wild throw. Throw in a Matt Ruffulo field goal for good measure and the Wildcats took a 31-3 lead into the break, still without a punt in six quarters of football. (Although, the scoreless final drive of the half wasn’t the best example of the two-minute drill.)

The no-punt streak didn’t last long out of halftime as two huge penalties wiped out an otherwise promising opening drive for Kentucky. The Wildcats kicked it away to Vanderbilt only for the Commodores to march 72 yards down the field (with the back-up quarterback, no less) for a touchdown, helped out by another costly Kentucky penalty. Vandy converted a 4th-and-goal from the 8-yard-line to score its first touchdown of the game and added a two-point conversion for no apparent reason.

Kentucky settled for three on its next series despite moving the ball 61 yards into the red zone. The run-heavy drive was a missed opportunity to get back in blowout territory but ran over 13 minutes off of the clock.

Vanderbilt and its new QB responded with yet another long touchdown drive, this time with 75 yards gained in under six minutes. Again the Commodores needed to convert a 4th-and-goal to cut into Kentucky’s lead and again the Kentucky defense gave up a Mike Wright end zone completion (two-point conversion, no good). The fourteen straight Vanderbilt points set off a loud groan among the Big Blue faithful in attendance, of which there were many. Big Blue Nation wanted and expected a rout, especially after the hot start.

Now clinging to a 17-point lead and watching the clock, Kentucky ran four plays and punted it away to Vanderbilt with five minutes to go. The defense settled back in and forced Vandy into a turnover on downs, then Kentucky’s rushing attack ran out the clock to escape Nashville on top.

Cats win but don’t cover, 34-17.