Special Teams Dominate the Day in Kentucky Win over Missouri

Special teams were far from special Saturday afternoon at Missouri’s Faurot Field. Amid all the craziness, the SEC East foes proved you can never take for granted the third phase of the game.

A quick glance at the box score and the two teams were even in almost every statistical category. Kentucky had 242 yards of offense compared to Missouri’s 232. The Tigers ran only one more play than the Wildcats. Even on defense, UK had nine tackles for loss to Mizzou’s 11. Play on special teams was the difference-makers.

Field Goal Problems Persist for Kentucky

Matt Ruffolo was one of the most efficient kickers in the history of Kentucky football, ranking in the top five in career field goal percentage at the start of the season. This year he’s 9-of-15 with a couple PAT misses. Those problems persisted today, no thanks to high winds in Columbia. His first attempt from 43 yards took a hard left hook off the tee. Most were surprised when Mark Stoops trotted him out there for a 47-yarder. The wind knocked it down short of the uprights.

It wasn’t just the field goal kicking unit that cost the Cats points. The Kentucky defense made a significant stop, forcing Harrison Mevis to attempt a 49-yard field goal. One of the best kickers in the SEC actually missed it wide left… but he got another chance, thanks to a 12-men on the field penalty by Kentucky. Mevis’ second chance sailed through the uprights for three points that almost costed the Cats a win.

Tedious Special Teams Penalties

Obviously, they will get overlooked compared to the other significant special teams plays, but each group took valuable yards of field position away from their team. The Missouri kickoff team tried to squib the ball away from Barion Brown. It resulted in a pair of kicks out of bounds, handing the Wildcats pristine field position. Kentucky’s return units weren’t much better, committing a pair of holding penalties to back up the UK offense.

Colin Goodfellow Saves the Day

The Wildcats have had long-snapping issues all season long. Some of the special teams miscues have resulted in missed kicks, while others have just sailed over the punter’s head, producing a safety at Ole Miss. This time Colin Goodfellow was ready for the special teams mistake at the most important moment of the game.

The ball skied over the punter’s head. A recovery by the Tigers would have set up an easy go-ahead score. Instead, Goodfellow sprinted back near the goal line, scooped the ball up and sent it soaring. Since the ball stayed within the tackle box, he still had the protections of a punter. When the Missouri defender tackled Goodfellow, it drew a 15-yard penalty that kept the ball in the Wildcats’ hands.

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Unfortunately, Goodfellow was severely injured. It might be the last we see of the punter this year, but without his special teams heroics, Kentucky does not leave Missouri with a win.

UPDATE: I forgot one

There were so many special teams mistakes that I forgot about the snap Missouri’s punter dropped that gave UK the ball deep in Mizzou territory. What a wild game.