Kentucky sophomore QB Terry Wilson began the week by being announced as UK’s starting quarterback. He spent his Saturday afternoon watching his Wildcats slip and stumble throughout a miserable first half. Wilson’s third turnover of the half was an interception, which was returned deep into Kentucky territory for a gutty Central Michigan team that already held a 17-14 lead. Wilson was knocked out of the game with an apparent shoulder injury on the play.

Wilson came back into the game and led a scoring drive in the middle of the third quarter, but only after sophomore QB Gunnar Hoak led a scoring drive at the end of the half to give UK a lead it would not surrender. Hoak found David Bouvier with a 24-yard touchdown pass seconds before the end of the half, but after he struggled in the third quarter, Kentucky gave Wilson another shot, and this time, he closed out the 35-20 victory.

Given the revolving door under center, it was Kentucky’s ground game which carried the day, scoring four touchdowns and totaling 240 yards on the ground.

What We Liked

Kentucky’s stable of running backs all showed big-play ability. All-SEC back Benny Snell had 104 yards on 15 carries, including a 52-yard run in which he leaped over a pair of CMU defenders attempting to tackle him low. Sophomore A.J. Rose tore off a 55-yard scoring run in the first quarter and finished with a career-high 104 yards on eight carries. Each had two rushing touchdowns. Senior Siheim King also ran well, as UK averaged 8.1 yards per carry for the game.

Kentucky’s defense did a much better job on the run than it did in 2017. CMU back Jonathan Ward, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, was held to 36 yards on 11 carries. CMU’s longest run was 17 yards, in large part due to some excellent work by Kentucky’s front seven—particularly Josh Allen, who was everywhere for UK.

Kentucky punter Max Duffy had a successful debut, averaging 50 yards per kick on his four punts. Duffy excelled both in rugby punts and traditional kicks. Unfortunately, given UK’s offensive struggles, he may have many opportunities.

What We Didn’t Like

Turning the ball over four times in the first half is just something that shouldn’t happen with an offense as pedestrian as Kentucky’s. Ball security isn’t a negotiable thing, and between Wilson’s two interceptions and the fumbling show put on by a multitude of UK players, Mark Stoops will be preaching taking better care of the football.

Kentucky didn’t want a quarterback controversy, but it may have one. Wilson is clearly a better athlete and a running threat, but Hoak looked more comfortable in the pocket and the passing game, which was awful in general, did look more functional with him in the game.

Senior cornerback Chris Westry was ejected in the second quarter for a horrific targeting penalty in which he unloaded on a helpless receiver who was overthrown by yards on 3rd and long. The play essentially was another turnover because instead of CMU punting the ball away, they moved downfield and eventually scored a touchdown. Westry has disappointed in the last two seasons after a promising first two years in his career. But this play went beyond disappointing.

What’s Next

Kentucky will take its turnover prone offense into the Swamp to face Florida. As you may have heard, the Gators hold a 31-game winning streak in that series. If Kentucky goes -4 in turnovers there, as it did this week, the odds of ending that streak become very long.