Kentucky shrugs off slow start, rushes for nearly 400 yards in win over South Alabama
By Ethan Stone
Published:
It wasn’t pretty, but a win’s a win. The Kentucky Wildcats are 3-1 on the season after downing South Alabama 45-21 in Week 4.
A slow start became a track meet in the second quarter. 38 of the game’s 62 points were scored across these 15 minutes as Kentucky and South Alabama traded blows ahead of the halftime break. The Wildcats entered halftime leading 24-21.
Out of the halftime break, however, Will Stein‘s unit began to stiffen up. Four of the final 5 drives of the day for South Alabama ended in a turnover, missed field goal or turnover on downs. South Alabama did not score following their stellar second quarter.
The Wildcats, on the other hand, were able to consistently find success in the run game. Kentucky rushed for 390 yards on Saturday and 3 Wildcats running backs eclipsed 100 yards in a show of absolute domination by Big Blue Wall.
CJ Baxter led the way in the rushing department, taking 16 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown. Jason Patterson wasn’t far behind — he finished with 12 carries for 137 yards and a game-high 3 touchdowns, while Oklahoma transfer Jovantae Barnes rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown of his own.
Here’s a look at Patterson’s first touchdown of the day, a 75-yard gallop to tie things up in the second quarter. Following this score, Kentucky never looked back:
Next up, Kentucky is set to travel to Columbia to face off against South Carolina.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
