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Kentucky Football: Kentucky Beat Ohio 20-3; But Did Not Meet Expectations

Do not let the title fool you, this was a strong win by Coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats.

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

The 1-0 Kentucky Wildcats came into yesterday's game with some momentum and excitement at the possibility of going 2-0.  They had some extra motivation in the form of a new uniform combination consisting of the much anticipated gray jersey along with a chrome-like shiny blue helmet with a gray facemask and chrome accents.  I think they liked them:

I can imagine that reading the title of this article your first thought is that I am about to write about the disappointments of the day, and judging by my Twitter feed maybe I should have.  However, I saw something different today.  Kentucky opened as a six-point favorite, at home, to a MAC team.  This means the expectation was a struggle would be hand, with home field advantage giving UK a close win.  Maybe I am right, maybe I am wrong, but here is what a saw: a somewhat DOMINANT performance.

The defense played probably their best game at UK since before anyone on the roster was even present in Lexington.  They held a solid team to three total points and have now held consecutive opponents scoreless in the first half for the first time since 1988.

The 'Cats continue to uncover playmakers every week and this week was no different.  Josh Forrest made several strong plays and continues to provide much needed speed from the position while inching ever closer to his high ceiling of ability.  A.J. Stamps may not make any Sportscenter top plays from yesterday's game, but he was very solid and active all over the field with 5.5 tackles and a strong broken up pass.  Jason Hatcher also made a strong statement today with 2.5 tackles for loss and very fundamental play.

We also saw Ryan Flannigan make a major sack to force a punt deep in Ohio territory.  His emergence in the linebacking corps could be a factor in winning an SEC game or two we are not supposed to win.  Adding him to the core of Dupree, Za'Darius, Hatcher, Forrest, Stamps, McClain, and Harmon bodes well for the future of this season and the future of the program.

While most will agree the defense was strong today, there are definitely mixed reviews on the offense.  While I see the reasoning behind it, the basis is short-sighted.  Ohio is a strong defensive team, certainly not SEC level but still a worthy opponent.

Before you get into trying to criticize the end score, remember a few things.  If Steven Borden caught the TD pass and Austin MacGinnis made the two "gimme" field goals, we are talking about a 30-point win and twitter would be discussing how we could actually beat Florida next week.

Beyond that, realize that UK played without three starters; left guard Zach West, running back Braylon Heard and wide receiver Javess Blue.  Anytime you take a starting lineman and your best running back and receiver out of the fray, you are going to have some struggles.

The positives on the offensive side had to be Towles showing another layer of ability and leadership.  I am not talking about his running ability, which is well documented.  I was impressed with his ability to make the right reads and make them quickly.  Seeing nothing open, finding the holes and hitting them for big gains is a big weapon and opportunity no matter how mobile you are.

The depth at running back continues to impress with Boom Williams ripping off a long run a la Braylon Heard style.  If that looked familiar it is because it was the exact same play that allowed Heard one of his TD runs.  The play is a fake screen, which draws the DBs to the perimeter, and if the RB makes it past the first layer, it is a foot race.

Dorian Baker is quickly moving up the list of impressive freshman in the SEC.  Baker made a great catch just in front of the goal line for Kentucky's first score of the day and it was on third and long and contested.  Baker had this to say about the play.

"It was a great feeling.  It was just like, ‘dang, I didn't even hit the end zone.'  But then when I saw the ref put his hands up, I'm like, ‘wow.'  I already scored my first touchdown in Commonwealth Stadium."

He also made a bone-shivering block on a Towles run.

At the end of the day, the Cats were supposed to struggle and eventually win this game.  Instead, they dominated Ohio in a game that was never in doubt.  They also have set themselves up for a showdown in the swamp next week with what should be a full compliment of health.  It is going to be fun to get a true measure of just where this team is.  As UK fans it is time to respect the win, be happy we are 2-0 and move on to next week... it appears our players already are.

Here are the highlights of the game:

Box Score:

Scoring Summary
Scoring Summary (Final) 
2014 Kentucky Football 
Ohio vs Kentucky (Sep 06, 2014 at Lexington, Ky.)

Ohio (1-1) vs. Kentucky (2-0)

Date: Sep 06, 2014

  • Site: Lexington, Ky. Stadium: Commonwealth Stadium Attendance: 51910
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Ohio 0 0 3 0 3
Kentucky 14 3 3 0 20
SCORING SUMMARY OHIO -UK
1st 11:27 UK Dorian Baker 8 yd pass from Patrick Towles (A. MacGinnis kick)
10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:33 0 - 7
08:24 UK S. Williams 53 yd run (A. MacGinnis kick)
8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:08 0 - 14
2nd 01:45 UK A. MacGinnis 53 yd field goal
10 plays, 33 yards, TOP 4:44 0 - 17
3rd 12:12 OHIO YAZDANI, Josiah 44 yd field goal
7 plays, 53 yards, TOP 2:43 3 - 17
06:17 UK A. MacGinnis 33 yd field goal
14 plays, 60 yards, TOP 5:55 3 - 20
Kickoff time: 3:32pm  • End of Game: 6:49  • Total elapsed time: 3:17 Referee: Tom Ritter  
  • Umpire: Steve Coullias Linesman: Johnny Crawford Line judge: Erick Pratt Back judge: James Carter Field judge: Eduardo Balbis Side judge: Dax Hill Alternate: Greg LeFlis Jr.
Temperature: 86 deg  
  • Wind: 8mph NW Weather: Hot, 69% humidity
Team Statistics
Team Statistics (Final) 2014 Kentucky Football 
Ohio vs Kentucky (Sep 06, 2014 at Lexington, Ky.)
Team Totals OHIO UK
FIRST DOWNS 13 24
Rushing 7 15
Passing 5 8
Penalty 1 1
NET YARDS RUSHING 74 232
Rushing Attempts 28 52
Average Per Rush 2.6 4.5
Rushing Touchdowns 0 1
Yards Gained Rushing 116 274
Yards Lost Rushing 42 42
NET YARDS PASSING 149 170
Completions-Attempts-Int 14-32-0 17-31-0
Average Per Attempt 4.7 5.5
Average Per Completion 10.6 10.0
Passing Touchdowns 0 1
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS 223 402
Total offense plays 60 83
Average Gain Per Play 3.7 4.8
Fumbles: Number-Lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties: Number-Yards 5-46 4-45
PUNTS-YARDS 8-374 5-224
Average Yards Per Punt 46.8 44.8
Net Yards Per Punt 41.8 39.4
Inside 20 1 3
50+ Yards 3 0
Touchbacks 0 1
Fair catch 0 1
KICKOFFS-YARDS 2-130 5-325
Average Yards Per Kickoff 65.0 65.0
Net Yards Per Kickoff 40.0 40.8
Touchbacks 2 4
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD 1-7-0 4-40-0
Average Per Return 7.0 10.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD 1-21-0 0-0-0
Average Per Return 21.0 0.0
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD 0-0-0 0-0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD 0-0-0 0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards 0 0
Possession Time 21:34 38:26
1st Quarter 5:28 9:32
2nd Quarter 6:26 8:34
3rd Quarter 4:01 10:59
4th Quarter 5:39 9:21
Third-Down Conversions 4 of 14 9 of 20
Fourth-Down Conversions 0 of 1 1 of 2
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 0-0 2-4
Touchdowns 0-0 1-4
Field goals 0-0 1-4
Sacks By: Number-Yards 5-34 2-14
PAT Kicks 0-0 2-2
Field Goals 1-2 2-4
Points off turnovers 0 0
Individual Statistics
Individual Statistics (Final) 
2014 Kentucky Football 
Ohio vs Kentucky (Sep 06, 2014 at Lexington, Ky.)
Ohio
Kentucky
RUSHING No. Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg.
PATTERSON, Daz' 14 46 2 44 0 8 3.1
VICK, Derrius 2 21 0 21 0 13 10.5
SPRAGUE, JD 6 40 20 20 0 20 3.3
OUELLETTE, A.J. 1 4 0 4 0 4 4.0
WINDHAM, Greg 1 0 1 -1 0 0 -1.0
EDMOND, Tim 3 5 8 -3 0 5 -1.0
TEAM 1 0 11 -11 0 0 -11.0
Totals... 28 116 42 74 0 20 2.6
RUSHING No. Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg.
S. Williams 5 60 0 60 1 53 12.0
Patrick Towles 22 96 37 59 0 16 2.7
Mikel Horton 10 46 1 45 0 22 4.5
Jojo Kemp 9 45 4 41 0 16 4.6
Josh Clemons 5 27 0 27 0 9 5.4
Ryan Timmons 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0
Totals... 52 274 42 232 1 53 4.5
PASSING Cmp-Att-Int Yds TD Long Sack
SPRAGUE, JD 13-25-0 143 0 36 1
VICK, Derrius 0-6-0 0 0 0 0
WINDHAM, Greg 1-1-0 6 0 6 1
Totals... 14-32-0 149 0 36 2
PASSING Cmp-Att-Int Yds TD Long Sack
Patrick Towles 17-31-0 170 1 33 5
Totals... 17-31-0 170 1 33 5
RECEIVING No. Yds TD Lg
COPE, Brendan 4 57 0 36
PATTERSON, Daz' 3 29 0 17
BRUNIS, Herman 2 30 0 22
SMITH, Landon 1 15 0 15
MANGEN, Troy 1 8 0 8
COCHRAN, Chase 1 7 0 7
SMITH, Sebastia 1 5 0 5
OUELLETTE, A.J. 1 -2 0 0
Totals... 14 149 0 36
RECEIVING No. Yds TD Lg
Ryan Timmons 10 95 0 22
Dorian Baker 2 41 1 33
Blake Bone 1 13 0 13
Jojo Kemp 1 7 0 7
Joey Herrick 1 6 0 6
T.V. Williams 1 4 0 4
Dem. Robinson 1 4 0 4
Totals... 17 170 1 33
PUNTING No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
BONNSTETTER, Mi 8 374 46.8 62 1 0
Totals... 8 374 46.8 62 1 0
PUNTING No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
Landon Foster 5 224 44.8 49 3 1
Totals... 5 224 44.8 49 3 1
Punts Kickoffs Intercept
ALL RETURNS No Yds Lg No Yds Lg No Yds Lg
PATTERSON, Daz' 1 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0
BASS, Devin 0 0 0 1 21 21 0 0 0
Totals... 1 7 7 1 21 21 0 0 0
Punts Kickoffs Intercept
ALL RETURNS No Yds Lg No Yds Lg No Yds Lg
Dem. Robinson 4 40 22 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals... 4 40 22 0 0 0 0 0 0
ALL PURPOSE Rush Rcv KR PR IR Total
PATTERSON, Daz' 44 29 0 7 0 80
COPE, Brendan 0 57 0 0 0 57
BRUNIS, Herman 0 30 0 0 0 30
VICK, Derrius 21 0 0 0 0 21
BASS, Devin 0 0 21 0 0 21
SPRAGUE, JD 20 0 0 0 0 20
SMITH, Landon 0 15 0 0 0 15
MANGEN, Troy 0 8 0 0 0 8
COCHRAN, Chase 0 7 0 0 0 7
SMITH, Sebastia 0 5 0 0 0 5
OUELLETTE, A.J. 4 -2 0 0 0 2
WINDHAM, Greg -1 0 0 0 0 -1
EDMOND, Tim -3 0 0 0 0 -3
TEAM -11 0 0 0 0 -11
Totals... 74 149 21 7 0 251
ALL PURPOSE Rush Rcv KR PR IR Total
Ryan Timmons 0 95 0 0 0 95
S. Williams 60 0 0 0 0 60
Patrick Towles 59 0 0 0 0 59
Jojo Kemp 41 7 0 0 0 48
Mikel Horton 45 0 0 0 0 45
Dem. Robinson 0 4 0 40 0 44
Dorian Baker 0 41 0 0 0 41
Josh Clemons 27 0 0 0 0 27
Blake Bone 0 13 0 0 0 13
Joey Herrick 0 6 0 0 0 6
T.V. Williams 0 4 0 0 0 4
Totals... 232 170 0 40 0 442
FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
YAZDANI, Josiah 2nd 00:00 42 yards Missed
YAZDANI, Josiah 3rd 12:12 44 yards Good
FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
A. MacGinnis 2nd 09:59 28 yards Missed
A. MacGinnis 2nd 01:45 53 yards Good
A. MacGinnis 3rd 06:17 33 yards Good
A. MacGinnis 4th 14:49 35 yards Missed
KICKOFFS No. Yds TB OB Avg.
YAZDANI, Josiah 1 65 1 0 65.0
DONOVAN, Davon 1 65 1 0 65.0
KICKOFFS No. Yds TB OB Avg.
D.J. Warren 1 65 1 0 65.0
A. MacGinnis 4 260 3 0 65.0
FUMBLES: Ohio-WINDHAM, Greg 1-1; SPRAGUE, JD 1-0. Kentucky-None.
Drive Chart
Drive Chart (Final) 
2014 Kentucky Football 
Ohio vs Kentucky (Sep 06, 2014 at Lexington, Ky.)
Drive Started Drive Ended Consumed
Team Qtr Spot Time Obtained Spot Time How Lost Pl-Yds TOP RZ
OHIO 1st O25 11:27 Kickoff O30 10:32 Punt 3-5 0:55
OHIO 1st O25 08:24 Kickoff O33 05:18 Punt 5-8 3:06
OHIO 1st O10 03:24 Punt O14 01:57 Punt 3-4 1:27
OHIO 2nd O20 14:52 Punt O23 13:41 Punt 3-3 1:11
OHIO 2nd O20 09:59 Missed FG K31 06:29 Downs 10-49 3:30
OHIO 2nd O25 01:45 Kickoff K24 00:00 Missed FG 11-51 1:45
OHIO 3rd O21 14:55 Kickoff K26 12:12 * FIELD GOAL 7-53 2:43
OHIO 3rd O25 06:17 Kickoff O25 05:04 Punt 3-0 1:13
OHIO 4th O20 14:49 Missed FG O48 12:46 Punt 6-28 2:03
OHIO 4th O16 09:56 Punt O23 07:46 Punt 5-7 2:10
OHIO 4th O13 06:01 Punt O13 05:28 Punt 3-0 0:33
OHIO 4th O34 03:03 Punt O44 02:10 Fumble 3-10 0:53
OHIO 4th O39 00:00 Downs O39 00:00 End of half 0-0 0:00
UK 1st K25 15:00 Kickoff O00 11:27 * TOUCHDOWN 10-75 3:33
UK 1st K20 10:32 Punt O00 08:24 * TOUCHDOWN 8-80 2:08
UK 1st K29 05:18 Punt K45 03:24 Punt 5-16 1:54
UK 1st K35 01:57 Punt O49 14:52 Punt 4-16 2:05
UK 2nd K39 13:41 Punt O11 09:59 Missed FG 8-50 3:42
UK 2nd K31 06:29 Downs O36 01:45 * FIELD GOAL 10-33 4:44
UK 2nd K20 00:00 Missed FG K20 00:00 End of half 0-0 0:00
UK 3rd K25 12:12 Kickoff O15 06:17 * FIELD GOAL 14-60 5:55
UK 3rd K46 05:04 Punt O18 14:49 Missed FG 13-36 5:15
UK 4th K12 12:46 Punt K38 09:56 Punt 5-26 2:50
UK 4th K41 07:46 Punt K40 06:01 Punt 3--1 1:45
UK 4th K25 05:28 Punt K27 03:03 Punt 3-2 2:25
UK 4th O44 02:10 Fumble O39 00:00 Downs 4-5 2:10
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd
Ohio Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr Half Half Total
Time of possession 05:28 06:26 04:01 05:39 11:54 09:40 21:34
3rd Down Conversions 0/3 4/6 0/2 0/3 4/9 0/5 4/14
Average field position O20 O21 O23 O20 O20 O21 O21
4th Down Conversions 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/1
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd
Kentucky Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr Half Half Total
Time of possession 09:32 08:34 10:59 09:21 18:06 20:20 38:26
3rd Down Conversions 4/6 2/4 3/5 0/5 6/10 3/10 9/20
Average field position K27 K35 K35 K33 K29 K34 K32
4th Down Conversions 0/0 0/0 1/1 0/1 0/0 1/2 1/2
Drive Chart (By Quarter)
Drive Started Drive Ended Consumed
Team Qtr Spot Time Obtained Spot Time How Lost Pl-Yds TOP RZ
UK 1st K25 15:00 Kickoff O00 11:27 * TOUCHDOWN 10-75 3:33
OHIO 1st O25 11:27 Kickoff O30 10:32 Punt 3-5 0:55
UK 1st K20 10:32 Punt O00 08:24 * TOUCHDOWN 8-80 2:08
OHIO 1st O25 08:24 Kickoff O33 05:18 Punt 5-8 3:06
UK 1st K29 05:18 Punt K45 03:24 Punt 5-16 1:54
OHIO 1st O10 03:24 Punt O14 01:57 Punt 3-4 1:27
UK 1st K35 01:57 Punt O49 14:52 Punt 4-16 2:05
OHIO 2nd O20 14:52 Punt O23 13:41 Punt 3-3 1:11
UK 2nd K39 13:41 Punt O11 09:59 Missed FG 8-50 3:42
OHIO 2nd O20 09:59 Missed FG K31 06:29 Downs 10-49 3:30
UK 2nd K31 06:29 Downs O36 01:45 * FIELD GOAL 10-33 4:44
OHIO 2nd O25 01:45 Kickoff K24 00:00 Missed FG 11-51 1:45
UK 2nd K20 00:00 Missed FG K20 00:00 End of half 0-0 0:00
OHIO 3rd O21 14:55 Kickoff K26 12:12 * FIELD GOAL 7-53 2:43
UK 3rd K25 12:12 Kickoff O15 06:17 * FIELD GOAL 14-60 5:55
OHIO 3rd O25 06:17 Kickoff O25 05:04 Punt 3-0 1:13
UK 3rd K46 05:04 Punt O18 14:49 Missed FG 13-36 5:15
OHIO 4th O20 14:49 Missed FG O48 12:46 Punt 6-28 2:03
UK 4th K12 12:46 Punt K38 09:56 Punt 5-26 2:50
OHIO 4th O16 09:56 Punt O23 07:46 Punt 5-7 2:10
UK 4th K41 07:46 Punt K40 06:01 Punt 3--1 1:45
OHIO 4th O13 06:01 Punt O13 05:28 Punt 3-0 0:33
UK 4th K25 05:28 Punt K27 03:03 Punt 3-2 2:25
OHIO 4th O34 03:03 Punt O44 02:10 Fumble 3-10 0:53
UK 4th O44 02:10 Fumble O39 00:00 Downs 4-5 2:10
OHIO 4th O39 00:00 Downs O39 00:00 End of half 0-0 0:00
Defensive Statistics
Defensive Statistics (Final) 
2014 Kentucky Football 
Ohio vs Kentucky (Sep 06, 2014 at Lexington, Ky.)
## Ohio Solo Ast Total TFL/Yds FF FR-Yds Int-Yds BrUp Blkd Sack/Yds QBH
51 JOHNSON, Jovon 6 6 9.0 0.5/1 . . . 1 . . .
32 POLING, Quentin 6 4 8.0 2.5/17 . . . 1 . 2.0/17 .
13 JONES, Devin 6 1 6.5 . . . . 1 . . .
33 BROWN, Blair 3 7 6.5 0.5/2 . . . . . 0.5/2 .
41 WELLS, Ian 4 1 4.5 1.0/3 . . . . . . .
93 BASHAM, Tarell 2 5 4.5 0.5/4 . . . . . 0.5/4 .
37 BASS, Devin 3 1 3.5 . . . . 1 . . .
99 LASEAK, Kurt 2 3 3.5 0.5/2 . . . . . 0.5/2 .
40 GRILLIOT, Cody 1 4 3.0 1.0/4 . . . . . 0.5/3 .
24 DAVIS, Toran 2 1 2.5 . . . . . . . .
35 CARPENTER, Nate 2 . 2.0 . . . . . . . .
96 SMITH, Kendric 1 2 2.0 1.0/6 . . . . . 1.0/6 .
25 INGOL, Thad 1 2 2.0 . . . . . . . .
43 JOHNSON, Willia 1 2 2.0 1.0/3 . . . . . . .
44 SAYLES, Casey 1 1 1.5 0.5/0 . . . . . . 1
34 TAUTUIAKI, Wats 1 1 1.5 . . . . . . . .
94 MCLEOD, Cameron . 3 1.5 . . . . . . . .
27 MACER, Aaron 1 . 1.0 . . . . . . . .
2E NELSON, Kylan . 2 1.0 . . . . . . . .
91 CRUTCHER, Antwa . 2 1.0 . . . . . . . .
95 PURDUM, Brandon . 2 1.0 . . . . . . . .
38 MOORE, Chad . 1 0.5 . . . . . . . .
92 ALOESE, Cleon . 1 0.5 . . . . . . . .
98 DAVIS, Tony . 1 0.5 . . . . . . . .
50 DAUGHERTY, Trav . 1 0.5 . . . . . . . .
## Kentucky Solo Ast Total TFL/Yds FF FR-Yds Int-Yds BrUp Blkd Sack/Yds QBH
1A A.J. Stamps 5 1 5.5 . . . . 1 . . 1
3A Fred Tiller 4 1 4.5 . . . . 1 . . .
16 Cody Quinn 3 2 4.0 . . . . . . . .
5A Ashely Lowery 3 2 4.0 . . . . . . . .
6A Jason Hatcher 2 2 3.0 2.5/9 . . . . . 0.5/5 .
22 Khal. Henderson 1 4 3.0 . . 1-0 . 1 . . .
2A Alvin Dupree 2 1 2.5 1.0/4 . . . 1 . . .
45 Josh Forrest 1 3 2.5 0.5/2 . . . . . . .
94 Za'Darius Smith 1 2 2.0 . . . . . . . .
96 Regie Meant 1 1 1.5 . . . . . . . .
91 Farr. Huguenin 1 1 1.5 . . . . . . . .
24 Blake McClain . 3 1.5 . . . . . . . .
47 Jabari Johnson 1 . 1.0 . . . . . . . .
50 Mike Douglas . 2 1.0 0.5/2 . . . 1 . . .
33 Ryan Flannigan . 2 1.0 0.5/5 . . . . . 0.5/5 .
41 Tra. Paschal . 1 0.5 . . . . . . . .
2B Nate Willis . 1 0.5 . . . . . . . .
90 Melvin Lewis . 1 0.5 . . . . . . . .
67 Cory Johnson . . . . . . . . . . 1