Unsung Heroes of the Governor's Cup

BryantheIntern

Nov 29, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops talks with place kicker Austin MacGinnis (99) during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Kentucky 44-40. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Cutter Boley has a chance to make himself a UK legend as a true freshman tomorrow. He would be one of the most unlikely heroes in Governor’s Cup history if he can somehow lead the Cats to victory. But this rivalry has not been void of unsung heroes during its modern run. I found four guys who were not focal points coming into the game that proved to be difference-makers. Will Boley or somebody else take that step into UK lore?

2002: ERNEST SIMMS, WR

Kentucky only scored two touchdowns in its 22-17 upset win at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium and the lightly-used Simms was one of them. His 64-yard touchdown catch opened the scoring early in that game. He went on to only catch one additional pass that game and a total of 11 his entire senior season. But he caught the biggest one of his career at the right time.

2008: ASHTON COBB, DB

The guy who we remember scoring a defensive touchdown in that game was Myron Pryor, who put the finishing touches on one of the better defensive performances in Governor’s Cup history. But people forget the unheralded Cobb actually had a 1st half scoop-and-score that put the Cats up 10-0. Cobb only recovered one fumble during his four years as a Cat, but he made it count.

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2016: AUSTIN MACGINNIS, K

It might be a stretch to call one of the better kickers in school history unsung, but MacGinnis did more than just bury the game-winning field goal in this huge upset over Lamar Jackson. He made an additional field goal late in the 3rd quarter and all five extra points. In a game where Kentucky needed every point it could get, it needed a perfect outing from Macginnis and got it. A lot of heroes that day but none more so than Austin.

2019: CHRIS RODRIGUEZ, RB

Rodriguez went on to have one of the better running back careers in UK history, but the redshirt freshman’s breakout game was likely in the 45-13 rout in 2019. He had run for just a little over 400 yards that season before the UL game. Lynn Bowden ran for 4 touchdowns and took all of the shine but C-Rod chipped in 125 yards on just 9 carries and a touchdown. I think it became evident that day who would be RB1 for the foreseeable future for the Cats.