Kentucky fell behind the UL Monroe Warhawks 14-3 through one quarter, but erupted to score 45 unanswered points in a resounding 34-point win. The Cats are now 5-1 on the season, earning more wins in six games than it earned in 24 total games during the 2012 and 2013 seasons combined.

Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Wildcats’ blowout victory:

  1. Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith are as good as advertised. The Wildcats’ star defensive end tandem lived up to its preseason hype Saturday, combining for 2.5 sacks and two more quarterback hurries in the win over the Warhawks. Kentucky’s front seven bothered ULM quarterback Pete Thomas all afternoon, and Dupree and Smith were the biggest difference-makers up front in the Wildcats’ victory. Kentucky will need its star defensive ends to keep up this pace in the second half of the season as it chases the SEC East crown.
  2. Boom Williams is the star of Kentucky’s offense. Williams missed Kentucky’s win over South Carolina while serving a one-game suspension, but he returned with a “Boom” this week in the win over ULM. Williams rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown in the victory, and returned the game’s opening kickoff 75 yards to set up UK’s first score of the afternoon. No other Kentucky tailback was able to rush for more than 17 yards against the Warhawks, but Williams had no trouble picking the defense apart. Jojo Kemp carried the offense last week out of the “WildKemp” formation, but Williams is truly the team’s most versatile back. He can run inside and outside, and is a dynamic pass-catcher as well. UK has plenty of talent on offense, but it doesn’t have another player quite like Williams.
  3. Kentucky’s secondary looks like a true Mark Stoops secondary. Last season, the Kentucky secondary was notoriously underwhelming, pulling in just three interceptions all season. Through six games in 2014, the Wildcats already have 11 interceptions as a team, including two pick-sixes against the Warhawks on Saturday. Kentucky hadn’t scored two defensive touchdowns in a game in six years, but this year’s defense, especially the secondary, looks night and day different from years past. In what is quickly becoming a pass-first league, the Cats finally have a secondary capable of keeping up with SEC offenses, which will make all the difference the remainder of the season. All the credit goes to Mark Stoops and defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot, who have reshaped the defense to mirror their Florida State defenses of old. Those FSU defenses were pretty good, and Kentucky’s defense is, too.
  4. Even when Patrick Towles has a quiet week, he makes winning plays. Towles did not have his best game Saturday, completing just 57 percent of his passes in throwing for only 216 yards. However, he threw for three touchdowns without an interception in the Wildcats’ win, reinforcing his exceptional command of the UK offense. Towles has only thrown four interceptions in UK’s first six games, three of which came in the triple-overtime loss on the road against Florida. If he can continue to protect the football in the second half of the season, the Cats will have a chance to score on any defense in the conference.
  5. Javess Blue looks like a No. 1 wideout in the SEC. Blue had a huge performance in Week 1, but made very little impact in UK’s next four games leading up to Saturday’s showdown. He played a huge role in Saturday’s win on Saturday, racking up three catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Blue’s 83-yard touchdown catch and run in the second quarter ignited Kentucky’s turnaround, and his one-handed touchdown grab in the second half might be the best catch any Wildcat has made this season. Blue didn’t just make explosive plays, he made them in big moments to help Kentucky avoid disaster against the Warhawks. Making big plays in big moments is not something that can be taught, and it’s proof that Blue is truly a No. 1 wideout in the SEC.