Kentucky Surpassed South Carolina on the Scoreboard and SEC East
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Photo by UK Athletics[/caption]
Let me get this over with. And I do so proudly and with a smile. I WAS WRONG. By picking South Carolina to win the game, linebacker doubts were too prevalent to confidently and objectively project a UK road win. Again, by inaccurately focusing on Jason Hatcher-Ryan Flannigan’s absence and an overabundance of youth, I didn’t think the young Wildcats could stop the Gamecock Wildcat. WRONG.
There is no such thing as an ugly road win, especially for a football program that had lost twenty two consecutive away from Commonwealth Stadium. Tonight, or this morning actually, is not the time to focus on second half offensive ineptitude, conservative play calling, or any other negativity that clouds the moment. That can wait for podcasts and later posts.
For now, in this moment, let’s focus on the positives:
- True freshman Chris Westry’s interception was a game changer. That’s an 18 year old playing in front of 80,000 Gamecock crazies. With the home team having all the momentum on its side, Westry broke on the football and created a turnover. He played lights out most of the night to include his first college sack. At times he matched up with All SEC WR, Pharoh Cooper. Chris didn’t back down or disappoint. Projecting a high ceiling for Westry may be underselling the super frosh.
- A mainstay of the first half Wildcat rush game success came behind another true freshman, RT George Asafo-Adjei. Throughout UK’s 24-7 dominance, he and fellow rookie CJ Conrad paved the way for Boom Williams, JoJo Kemp, and Mikel Horton. The trio ran wild. Yards after Contact, YAC, established early game intent.
- Denzil Ware had an interception that was nullified due to penalty and returned a failed two point conversion 98 yards for two Kentucky points. Ware displayed immense improvement from week one to week two. That is a sign of coaching, player development, and consistent with the type of athletes this staff has signed. Farrington Huguennin returned home to Columbia and had five tackles. Great moment for the senior.
- The receivers continued to impress. Led by Dorian Baker and Garrett Johnson with five catches a piece, beating SEC defensive backs was not an issue. Jeff Badet also had an explosion play. This group can be special and going to be fun to watch.
-The defense. SORRY YOU WERE DOUBTED. The Cats took the Head Ball Coach’s best punch and stayed off the canvass. The bend but not break defenders limited South Carolina to one touchdown in five red zone trips. The group was led by Khalid Henderson with 10 tackles. A player that I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG ABOUT. His improvement from junior-senior year is astonishing and yet another sign of efficient player development and the High Performance Program. Henderson is Kentucky’s most improved player. Respect. Josh Forrest, at 6’4 255 pounds, the linebacker defends the pass like a strong safety. Forrest was disruptive and offers stability.
- Kentucky outrushed their opponents, 207 to 195 yards. This number surprised. Majority of the UK related talking heads (Me included) thought Carolina would outrun and outslug the Cats in the trenches. Not tonight. WRONG AGAIN.
[caption id="attachment_184816" align="alignnone" width="600"]
© Jim Dedmon[/caption]
- Boom Williams produced back to back 100 yard games with 14 rushes for 107 yards. The Gamecock Slayer, JoJo Kemp was close behind with an encouraging 13 attempts for 78 yards and a touchdown. Mikel Horton unfortunately departed the game with a neck injury, but not before bulling over defenders on his way to another crucial power touchdown. The 1-2-3 punch’s diversity and running style uniqueness presents problems for opposing defensive coordinators. We’ll X and O the running game’s second half ineffectiveness later this week. For now, hats off to Coach Chad Scott’s group.
- Patrick Towles, the most scrutinized non-basketball player in recent UK Athletics history, improved his completion ratio from 47.1 to 72% by completing 21-29 for 192 yards and an interception. Efficient road game numbers. But statistics are not what I take away from his performance. Patrick’s opening drive interception that led to a South Carolina touchdown was an “uh oh” moment for the BBN. Be honest. Many said, “Not again.” WRONG. Statistics are meaningless compared to how he bounced back and led his team to an SEC road win. Pretty offensive exhibition? First half, extremely. At many times in second half, not so much. Don’t care, at least for the moment. We’ll break down every pass and footwork error later. He won on the road. His team is 2-0.
- Mark Stoops going for it on 4th and 4. Onions. By beating Steve Spurrier in consecutive seasons, Stoops surpassed every Kentucky coach that’s roamed CWS sidelines for twenty five years in head to head matchups with the HBC. His team jumped out then waned. Second half Déjà vu led to a harmonious sigh from Cumberland to Covington. He won. His team won. At this very moment, he’s flying back to Lexington with his winning team after beating South Carolina in Columbia. Again, WAS WRONG. Proud of our football coach. Proud of our Football Program. But most of all, I’m happy for the BBN and all the fans that have suffered through too many road losses and second half leads that resulted in disappointment. It’s only one game. I get it. Making such a big deal out of a single victory is somewhat condescending. Don’t care. Huge night for the BBN. Enjoy.
- Kentucky’s offensive line dominated a SEC defense in the first half. That same group later wavered, but then recovered to run the clock out in the final drive of the game with two first downs that can be best described as audacious. How dare a Kentucky football team finish off the Gamecocks in Williams-Brice Stadium? What did the big guys get as a reward? Patrick Towles in Victory Formation as South Carolina fans exited the stadium to a roaring chant of “Go Big Blue.”
Was it pretty? NO. But can’t say this enough, there is no such thing as an ugly SEC road win. UK doesn’t have enough of them to crow about, no pun intended.
The most important aspect of the game wasn’t the final score believe it or not. Unequivocally, Kentucky has surpassed South Carolina in the SEC East’s hierarchy. Consecutive wins validates the argument. Also, looking ahead, with Kentucky winning with a plethora of underclassmen, the near future also is distinctly advantageous for the Cats. In addition, Kentucky has battled and defeated South Carolina in recent recruiting tussles thus, Kentucky has surpassed its nemesis on and off the field. That my friends is progress. That is why Mark Stoops was hired. Is UK “there” yet? Not close. But it’s closer than it’s been in five years.
Don’t worry, being a softy will fade. But as for now, critical and objective analysis can wait.
Photo by UK Athletics[/caption]
Let me get this over with. And I do so proudly and with a smile. I WAS WRONG. By picking South Carolina to win the game, linebacker doubts were too prevalent to confidently and objectively project a UK road win. Again, by inaccurately focusing on Jason Hatcher-Ryan Flannigan’s absence and an overabundance of youth, I didn’t think the young Wildcats could stop the Gamecock Wildcat. WRONG.
There is no such thing as an ugly road win, especially for a football program that had lost twenty two consecutive away from Commonwealth Stadium. Tonight, or this morning actually, is not the time to focus on second half offensive ineptitude, conservative play calling, or any other negativity that clouds the moment. That can wait for podcasts and later posts.
For now, in this moment, let’s focus on the positives:
- True freshman Chris Westry’s interception was a game changer. That’s an 18 year old playing in front of 80,000 Gamecock crazies. With the home team having all the momentum on its side, Westry broke on the football and created a turnover. He played lights out most of the night to include his first college sack. At times he matched up with All SEC WR, Pharoh Cooper. Chris didn’t back down or disappoint. Projecting a high ceiling for Westry may be underselling the super frosh.
- A mainstay of the first half Wildcat rush game success came behind another true freshman, RT George Asafo-Adjei. Throughout UK’s 24-7 dominance, he and fellow rookie CJ Conrad paved the way for Boom Williams, JoJo Kemp, and Mikel Horton. The trio ran wild. Yards after Contact, YAC, established early game intent.
- Denzil Ware had an interception that was nullified due to penalty and returned a failed two point conversion 98 yards for two Kentucky points. Ware displayed immense improvement from week one to week two. That is a sign of coaching, player development, and consistent with the type of athletes this staff has signed. Farrington Huguennin returned home to Columbia and had five tackles. Great moment for the senior.
- The receivers continued to impress. Led by Dorian Baker and Garrett Johnson with five catches a piece, beating SEC defensive backs was not an issue. Jeff Badet also had an explosion play. This group can be special and going to be fun to watch.
-The defense. SORRY YOU WERE DOUBTED. The Cats took the Head Ball Coach’s best punch and stayed off the canvass. The bend but not break defenders limited South Carolina to one touchdown in five red zone trips. The group was led by Khalid Henderson with 10 tackles. A player that I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG ABOUT. His improvement from junior-senior year is astonishing and yet another sign of efficient player development and the High Performance Program. Henderson is Kentucky’s most improved player. Respect. Josh Forrest, at 6’4 255 pounds, the linebacker defends the pass like a strong safety. Forrest was disruptive and offers stability.
- Kentucky outrushed their opponents, 207 to 195 yards. This number surprised. Majority of the UK related talking heads (Me included) thought Carolina would outrun and outslug the Cats in the trenches. Not tonight. WRONG AGAIN.
[caption id="attachment_184816" align="alignnone" width="600"]
© Jim Dedmon[/caption]
- Boom Williams produced back to back 100 yard games with 14 rushes for 107 yards. The Gamecock Slayer, JoJo Kemp was close behind with an encouraging 13 attempts for 78 yards and a touchdown. Mikel Horton unfortunately departed the game with a neck injury, but not before bulling over defenders on his way to another crucial power touchdown. The 1-2-3 punch’s diversity and running style uniqueness presents problems for opposing defensive coordinators. We’ll X and O the running game’s second half ineffectiveness later this week. For now, hats off to Coach Chad Scott’s group.
- Patrick Towles, the most scrutinized non-basketball player in recent UK Athletics history, improved his completion ratio from 47.1 to 72% by completing 21-29 for 192 yards and an interception. Efficient road game numbers. But statistics are not what I take away from his performance. Patrick’s opening drive interception that led to a South Carolina touchdown was an “uh oh” moment for the BBN. Be honest. Many said, “Not again.” WRONG. Statistics are meaningless compared to how he bounced back and led his team to an SEC road win. Pretty offensive exhibition? First half, extremely. At many times in second half, not so much. Don’t care, at least for the moment. We’ll break down every pass and footwork error later. He won on the road. His team is 2-0.
- Mark Stoops going for it on 4th and 4. Onions. By beating Steve Spurrier in consecutive seasons, Stoops surpassed every Kentucky coach that’s roamed CWS sidelines for twenty five years in head to head matchups with the HBC. His team jumped out then waned. Second half Déjà vu led to a harmonious sigh from Cumberland to Covington. He won. His team won. At this very moment, he’s flying back to Lexington with his winning team after beating South Carolina in Columbia. Again, WAS WRONG. Proud of our football coach. Proud of our Football Program. But most of all, I’m happy for the BBN and all the fans that have suffered through too many road losses and second half leads that resulted in disappointment. It’s only one game. I get it. Making such a big deal out of a single victory is somewhat condescending. Don’t care. Huge night for the BBN. Enjoy.
- Kentucky’s offensive line dominated a SEC defense in the first half. That same group later wavered, but then recovered to run the clock out in the final drive of the game with two first downs that can be best described as audacious. How dare a Kentucky football team finish off the Gamecocks in Williams-Brice Stadium? What did the big guys get as a reward? Patrick Towles in Victory Formation as South Carolina fans exited the stadium to a roaring chant of “Go Big Blue.”
Was it pretty? NO. But can’t say this enough, there is no such thing as an ugly SEC road win. UK doesn’t have enough of them to crow about, no pun intended.
The most important aspect of the game wasn’t the final score believe it or not. Unequivocally, Kentucky has surpassed South Carolina in the SEC East’s hierarchy. Consecutive wins validates the argument. Also, looking ahead, with Kentucky winning with a plethora of underclassmen, the near future also is distinctly advantageous for the Cats. In addition, Kentucky has battled and defeated South Carolina in recent recruiting tussles thus, Kentucky has surpassed its nemesis on and off the field. That my friends is progress. That is why Mark Stoops was hired. Is UK “there” yet? Not close. But it’s closer than it’s been in five years.
Don’t worry, being a softy will fade. But as for now, critical and objective analysis can wait.
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