When your team has four players rush for over 50 yards each, it’s almost a guarantee your team will win the game.
Running the ball effectively not only keeps the football away from the opposing offense, but it also leaves the opposing defense on the field for an unusual amount of time. When you have four players rush for 67 yards, 95 yards, 110 yards and 129 yards... you have a Kentucky Wildcats team that was pleased to get back on track with their true offensive identity.
Chris Rodriguez with a fantastic touchdown run. pic.twitter.com/0PQZUtfPZI
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) November 16, 2019
With Christopher Rodriguez leading the way with 129 yards and two touchdowns runs on just 15 carries, the young talent had a vintage Benny Snell game in which he dominated the Vanderbilt front-seven.
Suddenly, one could begin to wonder why Rodriguez hadn’t been used that way all season, or if he simply took advantage of a horrendous Vanderbilt defense.
Chris Rodriguez takes it 27 yards for the touchdown. pic.twitter.com/etDaThx6TO
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) November 16, 2019
Kentucky’s second-leading rusher was starting quarterback Lynn Bowden Jr., as he carried the ball 17 times for 110 yards and a score. Bowden’s dual-threat ability continues to be one of the most unique in the country, nearly single-handedly keeping this Wildcats’ team afloat.
Chris Rodriguez with a tough run for the first down. pic.twitter.com/Y4B3ujoYMN
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) November 16, 2019
Third and fourth for Kentucky were Kavosiey Smoke and Asim Rose, as the pair rushed for a combined 162 yards on 19 carries. Walker Wood added 12 yards on two carries while Sawyer Smith and Travis Tisdale had three official carries for negative 11 yards.
The team in total had a whopping 57 carries for 401 yards, falling just shy of the program’s record for a game of 446 yards.
With two games to go, hopefully the Wildcats’ can use this momentum to fuel their way to bowl eligibility.