Kentucky QB Will Levis was Perfect on Third Down against Mississippi State
It’s difficult to quantify what Will Levis means to this Kentucky football team. We saw what the Wildcats looked like without him against South Carolina. For a moment, it looked like Kentucky might not have him against at Kroger Field. Through all of the ups and downs against Mississippi State, whenever the Wildcats needed a big play, Levis delivered.
“It’s hard to give it the recognition that it deserves because he is a tough player and he’s a great leader,” Mark Stoops said after the game. “He has that belief about him. Because he’s earned it. He’s worked for it … that’s a guy that prepares and works and leads the team.”
The Kentucky head coach is right. It’s difficult to find the right words to describe the deflating feeling when he left for the locker room, followed by elation when he returned to the sideline. Numbers more accurately quantify his game-changing ability.
Will Levis was a perfect 9-for-9 on third down for 194 yards. He also converted a pair of fourth downs, one for a touchdown. Few quarterbacks in the country have been hit as many times as Levis. Unshaken, every time his number was called, he answered.
Two Game-Changing Plays by Will Levis on Third Down
It took a team effort for Kentucky to knock off No. 16 Mississippi State, Mark Stoops’ 11th win over a Top 25 team, but two fourth quarter plays in particular put Kentucky over the top. Each occurred on third down. Each time Mississippi State dialed up pressure. Rich Scangarello put the ball in Will Levis’ hands and he made magic.
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A promising drive was on the rocks when Levis dropped back to pass on 3rd and 8. Like many times before, it looked like the pressure was going to send the quarterback into the turf and eliminate a scoring opportunity. Instead, he looked right through it and found an open JuTahn McClain. It’s a play you’ll see on his NFL Draft highlight reel.
One play later, Chris Rodriguez scored a touchdown to give the Wildcats a two-score lead.
Fast forward a few minutes and Kentucky had a chance to pull away from the Bulldogs. A screen on 4th and 2 was jumped by Mississippi State for a Pick Six. The BBN let out a collective sigh. While many fans on the sideline prepared for the inevitable meltdown, nobody on the sideline lost faith. They believed in No. 7. Once again, he delivered.
Mississippi State went back to the well and brought pressure on 3rd and 4. For every blitz, there’s an answer. This one was to redshirt freshman wide receiver Dekel Crowdus. Will Levis did not hesitate, putting enough air under the ball for Crowdus to run underneath it for a 50-yard gain.
“That guy’s a warrior. That’s why he’s going to be an unbelievable NFL quarterback,” said Rich Scangarello. “He just has grit, toughness, smarts and competitive greatness.”
That’s why they say, when there’s a Will, there’s a way.
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