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For Kentucky fans, the regular season finale against archival Louisville could be summed up in just one word: ugly.
After the Cards went up 7-0 early on, Kentucky went three-and-out due to a questionable no-call that many argued should have been pass interference on the Wildcats’ opening offensive drive.
The brawling began on the second possession for the cards, when Lamar Jackson was pushed out of bounds by Lonnie Johnson deep in Kentucky territory. Jackson fell to the ground out of bounds, and Jordan Jones was there to give the Heisman-winner a little head butt when he returned to his feet.
Jackson then gave Jones a shove which resulted in a shove back from Jones, and before you knew it, the two were on the ground as players from both sides tried to break the two apart.
Jordan Jones and Lamar Jackson start a fight during the first half of the Governor's Cup pic.twitter.com/9dR58Kvitm
— Dan Koob (@DanKoob_WLKY) November 25, 2017
The fight resulted in off-setting personal fouls for both teams, but that would not be the last time personal fouls would be called. Louisville took a 14-0 lead two plays after the fight and went to the locker room ahead of the Cats 31-10 at half.
After Kentucky went three-and-out to start the second half, the Cats defense gave the Cards a little help on their opening second-half drive, committing three straight penalties for 45 yards.
Kentucky’s first 3 defensive plays in the 2nd half:
— Curtis Burch (@curtisburch) November 25, 2017
1. Incomplete pass BUT 15 yard personal foul penalty on Jordan Jones
2. Jackson 1 yard run BUT 15 yard personal foul penalty on Jordan Jones
3. Holding on UL BUT unsportsmanlike penalty on Denzil Ware.
Jones’ three personal fouls on the day did not keep the junior linebacker off the field, making Kentucky Coach Mark Stoops the subject of criticism for many members of the media...
Mark Stoops, who texted me at 3 a.m. to complain about a tweet earlier this season, isn't going to enjoy today's column.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_SEC) November 25, 2017
I've thought Stoops has been unfairly criticized at times this season, but he deserves every bit of heat he'll get for the lack of discipline his team has shown in the last 24 hours.
— TJ Beisner (@tjbeisner) November 25, 2017
Two straight unnecessary roughness penalties on Jordan Jones. Y'all keep telling me I don't know what I'm talking about with him. He's out of control and Stoops can't do a damn thing about it.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_SEC) November 25, 2017
Jordan Jones did not like whatever was being said during the timeout. pic.twitter.com/p3uh6AtsGn
— KSTV (@KSTV_Sports) November 25, 2017
Jordan Jones is still in the game. Lost a tremendous amount of respect for Stoops in this game.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_SEC) November 25, 2017
Overall, it was a day that the Big Blue Nation would like to forget. The good news? Kentucky still finished the season tied for its best regular season record since 1984, and a bowl game is still on the horizon. Hopefully discipline will be a focal point for Kentucky in the weeks leading up to the bowl, wherever it may be.
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