Kentucky Cruises Past South Alabama 45-21
By Hayden Kennedy
KySportsStyle.com Magazine
For a while, Kentucky looked like a team still coming down from the high of its road victory over Texas A&M. Then the Wildcats found their footing, and once they did, South Alabama had few answers.
Kentucky overcame a slow opening half and used a punishing rushing attack to pull away from the Jaguars, winning 45-21 Saturday at Kroger Field. The Wildcats finished with 390 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, producing three different 100-yard rushers in the same game for only the second time in school history.
Great Day on the Ground for the Cats
C.J. Baxter led Kentucky with 149 yards on 16 carries, including a touchdown, while Jason Patterson added 137 yards and three TDs. Javantae Barnes provided another explosive performance with 100 yards on eight carries and a TD.
But getting there wasn't easy. South Alabama repeatedly capitalized on Kentucky's early mistakes, including a muffed punt that gave the Jaguars possession at the UK 15-yard line. The Jaguars turned that opportunity into a touchdown and eventually took a 21-14 lead late in the second quarter.
With just over a minute remaining in the half, Patterson broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 21-21. Grant Godfrey then intercepted South Alabama quarterback Jared Hollins on the Jaguars' next possession, setting up a 34-yard Adam Zouagui field goal that sent Kentucky into halftime ahead 24-21.
“You want to give all credits to the O-line,” Patterson said of the touchdown run. “If you go back and look at the run, the hole was so wide open. I didn’t do anything but run. My job as a running back is to run.”
Second Half Domination
Coming out of halftime, Kentucky took control. Baxter opened the second half with a 53-yard run, setting up Patterson's 15-yard touchdown two plays later.
And the Wildcats weren't finished. Patterson added a two-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, pushing the lead to 38-21, before the UK defense forced a turnover on downs. Kentucky added another score when quarterback Kenny Minchey connected with Shane Carr for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Minchey finished with 177 passing yards and a touchdown, while the Kentucky offense repeatedly created big running lanes behind an offensive line that controlled the game as the afternoon progressed.
Kentucky's defense also made timely plays, including interceptions by Grant Godfrey and Antwan Smith. Smith's late-game pick officially closed the door on any South Alabama comeback attempt.
Next Game
Kentucky, now 3-1, will travel to Columbia Saturday to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Kentucky is currently a six-point underdog going into the game.
I fully expect the Cats to go into Williams-Brice Stadium and come out with a victory. If UK wins, this could be the game that puts South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer’s job in jeopardy.
The game will be shown on the SEC Network at 4:15 pm ET.
Hayden Kennedy, a recent UK graduate, is a contributing writer from Lexington.
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