A week after a brutal fourth quarter against Florida changed the direction of Kentucky’s season, the Wildcats dug a deep hole with an awful first half on Saturday and couldn’t dig out of it late in a 28-13 loss to Mississippi State. A handful of critical errors kept Kentucky on the short end of the scoreboard, and caused the Wildcats to fall to 2-2 overall, 0-2 in SEC play.

What I Liked

A Rose by any other name

A game ball has to go to junior running back A.J. Rose, who managed 105 rushing yards on just nine carries. Kentucky’s other ball carriers totaled just 49 rushing yards on 19 carries, but Rose found seams in the Bulldog defense throughout the game, including a 31-yard carry in the first quarter which helped set up Kentucky’s first score of the game.

All-purpose Bowden

Junior wide receiver Lynn Bowden had an uneven game, dropping two passes that could have gone for potential touchdowns, but also managing seven receptions for 129 yards on his way to 210 all-purpose yards. None of Bowden’s plays were more impressive than a third-quarter catch on fourth down in which he appeared to be stopped shy of a first down. He spun out of the tackle and gained an additional chunk of crucial yardage. That play set up Kentucky’s lone touchdown of the game.

A new defensive starter

Kudos also go to Kentucky cornerback Brandin Echols. He earned his first career start and had a very solid game, notching a team-high 10 tackles, including a sack and forced fumble when Kentucky was in danger of being blown out of the game in the early third quarter.

What I Didn’t Like

Field Goal Woes

Redshirt freshman kicker Chance Poore came off a critical late miss in the Florida loss … and promptly continued his struggles. Poore made a 40-yarder in the first quarter, but missed a 47-yard try just before halftime and pushed a 26-yarder early in the fourth quarter. That left Poore 5-for-11 on field goal attempts in his career and led Kentucky coach Mark Stoops to let walk-on Matt Ruffolo try (and make) a 29-yard effort later in the fourth. But with Kentucky trailing by a possession late in the game, the two missed field goals from Poore loomed large. Again.

Struggling Sawyer

Sawyer Smith had turnover issues in his first start against Florida, but connected on a number of tough passes, particularly on third down. Against State, Smith was 15 for 41 passing for 232 yards. He was only intercepted once (the early pick six) but was lucky to avoid two or three more. To be fair, several receivers had drops including three potential touchdown passes (two to Bowden, one to Ahmad Wagner). Smith also was dinged up by halftime — but whatever the cause, Smith has to play sharper than he did for Kentucky’s offense to succeed.

Run defense woes

State pounded the football on Kentucky as it pounds to football vs. most everybody. Holding Kylin Hill to 120 yards on 26 carries (4.6 yards per carry) was reasonable work for the UK defense, but QB Garrett Shrader seemed to bedevil Kentucky whenever he contemplated running the football. Shrader, who passed for 180 yards, also rushed for 125 on 11 carries (and that includes two sacks, so he actually rushed for 139 yards on nine carries). It’s hard to play from behind when you give up 15 yards per carry to the opposing QB.