Rapid Reaction: Kentucky 5-0, tops South Carolina yet again
If Kentucky keeps playing like this, the Wildcats will have to move beyond the “no respect” motivational tactics that have helped sustain them. For the third time this season, the Wildcats won an SEC game in which they were a Vegas underdog; this time 24-10 on Saturday over the visiting South Carolina Gamecocks.
Kentucky was widely expected to show signs of an emotional hangover after last week’s 28-7 victory over then-No. 14 Mississippi State and a first 2-0 SEC start since 1977. But South Carolina wound up reeling after a three-touchdown barrage in the second quarter gave the Wildcats a 21-point halftime advantage.
Kentucky forced two first-half turnovers. The first, Rico Dowdle’s fumble, set up Miles Butler’s 29-yard field goal. South Carolina answered with a 13-play, 72-yard drive which ended in Parker White’s tying 29-yard field goal with 5:07 to play in the first quarter.
Then came Kentucky’s knockout punch. Kentucky went 75 yards in 11 plays, culminating in Terry Wilson’s 1-yard scoring run seconds into the second quarter. Kentucky outgained the Gamecocks in that quarter, 171-59. Later in the second quarter, sophomore running back Asim Rose had a 24-yard touchdown run and Benny Snell entered the scoring column on a 4-yard plunge.
Snell surpassed 3,000 career rushing yards late in the first half and passed Rafael Little to move into third on Kentucky’s career rushing list. Snell’s first half touchdown was the 40th of his career, extending his school record.
Kentucky sustained a major loss in the third quarter when starting middle linebacker Kash Daniel was ejected on a questionable targeting penalty.
South Carolina struggled offensively and defensively, with QB Jake Bentley held to 9 passing yards in the first half. The Gamecocks had some success running the ball, as they rotated Dowdle, Mon Denson and A.J. Turner throughout. In the middle of the third quarter, South Carolina finally found the end zone with Deebo Samuel hauling in a 58-yard pass from Bentley over Kentucky’s Lonnie Johnson.
Kentucky (5-0, 3-0 SEC) travels to Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1) next week for the Wildcats’ first matchup with the Aggies since 1953, shortly before Bear Bryant left Lexington to coach in College Station.
South Carolina (2-2, 1-2) will next host Missouri (3-1, 1-1), which is coming off of a bye week. Both have lost to Georgia so this game will be essential for either program to hang close to the pack in the East.
Kentucky needs to keep the momentum going till the UGA game!
I know UK has little to no chance. But wouldn’t it be wild if they did! Almost like Syracuse vs Clemson the last two years.
That’s what I’m saying!!! Would be wild if Kentucky won the east. It’s fun to think about the scenario
We just need Georgia to lose some games and we may make it to Atlanta. I would be honored to get destroyed with Saban in Atlanta.
Exactly foam finger, that’s my thinking. We don’t have a great chance at beating UGA (although you never know!) but Georgia has to play at LSU and host Auburn. If they somehow dropped both of those, and we kept winning, theoretically we could lose to them and make Atlanta.
Well I’m rooting for the cats for the rest of the season in the east division games!
Wow never thought I’d see the day when the kittens became cats and my Vols do good to save face good job cats let’s see ya get to Atlanta
Gotta root for somebody hate them gaters so
Was hoping the Vols could put up a fight today. They looked like they are starting to form into an actual football team for the first time this year.
Not surprised at all. Good for Kentucky. The game next week is another big one for them. Gotta find that emotion and intensity again.
Yeah. I hope we continue playing great defense and maybe we can air out the ball a little more. Maybe we will help you all out by giving A&M another conference loss. I’m loving Coach O and hope that your offense starts clicking a bit more.
It’s good to see UK winning… Enjoy it UK fans.
Crickets from the SC fans that were talking a big game
Wow bro your such badass calling out those sc fans like that.not all hero’s wear capes
Need some butt paste? Because you’re really caught up in your feelings right now
Lol,I’m not mad,you just made a stupid comment,but Jokes on you. you live in Kentucky
Also i dont know what the hell butt paste is but you can keep it to you and your cousin
I’m from Kentucky, I dont live in Kentucky, so… WRONG
Butt paste is butthurt cream, and you seem like you really need it.
I promise you wont win next year.
Guess we will just have to wait and see :)
Nah brah!
Bryson stayed to beat ya’ll and he never did. It’s over. Ya’ll are done next year!
Already starting, you’d think after tonight ya’ll would know how to shut up.
Sublem, Esec is not a SC fan he is actually a TN fan that tries to troll SC pages.
good to know, I’ll ignore him from here on out
Not from me. If you read any posts about this game you would have seen I called this game 42-10 UK. I’m still standing and present.
Yeah, mine was only aimed at the ones who were talking a big game as if UK hasnt improved any despite the fact that they have already shown they had.
So you really weren’t trying to sell rat poison when you were saying the Cats needed to be concerned with TAMU and not SC. I missed your post 42-10 prediction so my apologies for the Nick Saban rat poison comparison.
Yes, Kentucky has improved but I think a number of our fans were/are getting too carried away with the wins in the early season and how UK has become an early season SEC feel-good story for some members of the media. If you know anything about UK football then you’ll understand my reluctance to trust early season successes. I now believe they have a legitimate shot at hitting 10 wins but I’m not placing any bets just yet.
I can understand your reluctance, unfortunately lol.
But unlike those past seasons where we went 5-1 then lose the rest, our hardest games are in the FRONT of the season, then you have UGA mid way which is thee hardest.
The rest after UGA is super easy comparatively.
We know this: UK IS going to a bowl game this season, they have one gimme game left. Then they have Vandy, UT, and Louisville, all who are very beatable and UK has shown that they are superior so far.
If UK beast TAMU next week, 11-1 is a possibility for this team.
Beats*
I’m sure UK fans appreciate the compliments but I’m not ready to write Missouri off as an easy game yet. I’d like to see how they play against you guys and Alabama before making a prediction.
I think the two biggest differences for the Cats this year is Stoops is finally getting some quality depth and team really did appear to be focused and ready for the game.
Congrats Cats you guys earned it.
Thanks. Best of luck for the rest of your season. I hate to see Bentley get hobbled and glad that Deebo didn’t get hurt again. Your team team didn’t engage in any trash talk before the game, and that gets my respect. I’m tirrd of all the unnecessary talk.
I agree 100%, and your fans are among the classiest in college football you guys have earned one of the top two spots in the east, good luck for the rest of the season.
well said.
Great victory UK
Great game Kentucky you have made my Dad proud as a 1963 graduate he’s crowing big time! But now I have to settle back to reality that we are not a good team. Muschamp said wuote when we hired him that he could sell Ketchup popsicles to Eskimos. Well he better get his a$$ in gear then. Other wise we’re going to be the new old Kentucky.
No sir TN has taken that position get the in line as to much as I hate to say it
But they did fight today so hope survives
First year for a new coach after the dumpster fire that Jones left. UT has the talent to compete, but it may just be a single down year as they get the culture turned around.
I’m all in for Uk against UGA!
Hard fought win
South Carolina is a very good team with a very solid QB
Y’all keep saying we’ll have to move past the “no respecT” motivational tactics, and yet everyone keeps disrespecting us. Sooo… lol
“Everyone keeps disrespecting us” …not really. UK is getting plenty of love. It’s just that no one is picking them to win the SEC or make the CFP. That’s not disrespect, just guarded optimism.
Hats off to the Wildcats! Kentucky is showing “Big Brother” Tennessee how to get it done.
Now follow this up with a win at A&M next week and you’ll be flirting with top 10 status.
The way we played Arkansas, Kentucky is looming pretty large right now. At least it’s at home. Arky has a better defense than people think. They made a mess of Mond today. Two picks in the first half.
I take my hat off to the WildCats of Kentucky! Total domination, I wish the Cats well, we Gamecocks are in trouble. Not even competitive:(
Congrats Kentucky. You guys played very well. We did not. Good luck with the rest of your season.
WAIT A MINUTE… WAIT A MINUTE!!! We haven’t heard from Paris10 yet. Paris, are you still out there??? The UK fan base (Okay, maybe it’s just me) wants to hear your critical take on Kentucky’s 5 & 0 start. Yes, I just had to poke the bear!!! BTW, before you start, Mitch Barnhart DOES NOT need to make any contact adjustments until the end of the season. There, I said it for you in a much nicer way.