Kentucky Sloppy in Blowout of Murray State -

Kentucky looked to have a “get right” game Saturday against the Murray State Racers, a team coming in with a record of 1-9 at the FCS level this season. They would win big, but it was anything but a clean game.

Murray State would get the ball first and would move the ball 28 yards before Jordan Lovett would pick off a Jayden Johannsen pass at the Kentucky 33 yard line. The opening drive was a signal of what was to come in the game. Three penalties would be called, an ineligible receiver downfield, a personal foul on Keyshawn Silver and finally offsides on Kentucky. Kentucky would score after the interception, but it wasn’t without it’s own issues. They moved the ball 15 yards on two Demi Sumo-Karngbe runs and a 12 yard reception by Dane Key. On 2 and and 7, Brock Vanadagriff would go deep for Hardley Gilmore IV, but the ball would be badly under-thrown. What looked like a sure interception, went off the defenders hands and into the waiting arms of Gilmore for a 52 yard TD, his first as a Wildcat.

The defense would force a punt on the next possession, but on the very first play, Vandagriff would go deep again, but this time, the ball was no where near the receiver for an interception that wasn’t dropped this time. Murray State would be unable to capitalize on the turnover, leading to a 73 yard TD drive for Kentucky that was capped off with a 3 yard TD run by Sumo-Karngbe. The sloppy play nearly cost Kentucky a touchdown after forcing another Murray State punt. Return man, Jamari Maclin, was back deep to receive the kick. The ball hit the ground and instead of moving away from the ball, Maclin would inexplicably reach for the rolling football. The ball would be picked up in the end zone by a Racer defender for what looked like a touchdown, but the official ruled it a touchback. However, replay showed that the ball may have hit Maclin on the thumb as it bounded by. It would not be reviewed by the officials, allowing Kentucky to Keep the ball. On 2nd and 8 from the 22, Jamarion Wilcox would break free for an explosive run down the Murray State 5 yard line. It would be called back for a holding penalty on left tackle Marques Cox. Kentucky would ultimately punt on the drive.

After another Racer punt and a Kentucky field goal made it 17-0, Murray State put together their best drive of the first half. They would drive 53 yards in 6 plays before Lovett would come up with his second interception of the first half, at the Kentucky 9 yard line. What followed Murray State’s best drive of the half, was Kentucky’s. With 2:19 remaining in the first half, Kentucky would go on an 11 play 91 yard drive in 2:08, capping it off with a 19 yard touchdown toss from Vandagriff to Maclin.

The lead would be extended to 31-0 at the start of the 3 rd quarter. Kentucky, led by Freshman Cutter Boley, would go 75 yards for a touchdown. Wilcox would be big on the drive, running for 36 yards including a 4 yard touchdown to cap it off. Wilcox would carry the ball 13 times for 123 yards on the day. A racer punt and a Kentucky FG would follow with Kentucky up 34-0. The following drive, Murray State’s longest of the day, of 77 yards would get them on the board with a FG. It may have been the most frustrating drive of the day for fans to watch. Murray State would drive the ball to the UK 11 yard line. From there, there would be penalties called on 5 consecutive plays; holding on Murray State, false start Murray State, pass interference Kentucky, roughing the passer Kentucky and finally, ineligible receiver downfield Murray State. The final penalty would take a touchdown off the board for Murray State and they would settle for that disappointing FG.

They would tack on another field goal, just minutes later. Kentucky received the kickoff and Brandon White returned the kick 53 yards to the Murray State 47 yard line, but it would be called back for a holding penalty. On the ensuing kick, White would fumble the ball back to Murray State at the UK 16 yard line.

In a game with sloppy play, the 3rd quarter may have been the worst. In a game that had 24 total penalties for 198 yards (15-111 MSU, 9-87 UK), half of those (12) and nearly half the yardage (85) were called in that quarter. Thankfully, that quarter came to an end and Kentucky would go to the 4th leading 34-6. Kentucky would take their first possession of the 4th quarter 75 yards for a touchdown, capping it off with Boley’s first touchdown pass of his career. It would come on 4th and 2 from the 22 yard line and be hauled in by Anthony Brown-Stevens and would put Kentucky up 41-6. Boley would 3-3 on the drive for 41 yards, and he wasn’t done.

After Kentucky forced another punt, Boley would throw his second TD pass, also to Brown- Stevens, from 14 yards out. He would go 3-4 on the drive for 33 yards. Chip Traynum would figure big on the drive as well, carrying it 7 times for 39 yards including a 17 yard scamper for a first down on 4th and 1. Murray State would mount one more good looking drive before being picked off in the end zone by Jackson Schulz, allowing Kentucky to run out the remaining 1:40 on the clock.

Kentucky would give up 256 total yards to Murray State and while this would normally look good, this is a team that was held to 85 yards in the opening game against Missouri. It was a by product of the sloppiness that plagued them the entire game. Defensive breakdowns in the secondary, untimely penalties extending drives. It was a game that although looks good on the scoreboard, it wasn’t a clean or exciting game to watch.

Kentucky would put up 582 yards of their own, 313 through the air and another 269 yards on the ground. Vandagriff would finish 12-19 for 183 yards 2 TDs and 1 interception. Boley would go 10-14 for 130 yards and 2 TDs. 12 different receivers would catch a pass in the game led by Sumo-Karngbe with 4. Joining leading rusher Wilcox were 6 other ball carriers for a total of 146 yard, led by Sumo- Karngbe with 48.

Even though Kentucky put up big numbers in yardage, we saw the same issues that we’ve seen all season long. The OL line played poorly with untimely penalties taking away big plays as well as allowing 4 sacks to Murray State in the game and 6 tackles for loss. Vandagriff once again struggled with his poise in the pocket and getting through his progressions. The bright spots in the game for the Wildcats were Wilcox separating himself as the clear RB1 for the team and Boley flashing the potential that made him an elite prospect coming out of high school.

Will Kentucky continue to take a look at Boley at QB, probably not as the starter, but with 2 games remaining getting the QB of the future a look in the next two games should be something the coaching staff should consider.

Kentucky travels to Austin to take on #3 Texas next weekend at 3:30pm on ABC.