Cats Can’t Keep Momentum Going
Heading into Saturday night’s game at Neyland Stadium it was a battle of team heading in opposite directions. Kentucky came in on a three-game losing streak while Tennessee was still riding high from beating Alabama. The Wildcats put up a great effort and even led at the half. However, it was almost all Tennessee after the intermission. Let’s break it down as a poor second half dooms Kentucky 28-18.
Not What Was Expected
On paper, it looked like a long night for the Wildcats. After all one of the worst offenses in the nation was facing the third-best defense. However, that’s why you play the game. Taking the opening kick UK got off to a fast start. On the game’s first play, Jamarion Wilcox took in 50 yards to the Vol 23.
After getting the ball deep in Tennessee territory Kentucky’s kryptonite hit. Once again inside the 10-yard line, the Cats couldn’t find the end zone. Instead of taking the points on fourth and two from the five Mark Stoops’ club went for it. Brock Vandagriff‘s pass fell incomplete and UK got nothing. Amazingly it’s the fourth straight game Kentucky’s had the ball inside the 10 and got no points.
On their first possession, Tennessee drove down to the Wildcat 25 before the drive stalled. Max Gilbert missed a 43-yard field goal and we were scoreless after the first period. It was the first time in four tries Josh Heupel’s Vols didn’t score in the first quarter against Kentucky.
Going Back And Forth
We finally got some scoring in the second period. Taking advantage of good field position Vandagriff found tight end Josh Kattus on a 27-yard strike and the Cats were on the board. We’ve been saying it for years, throw the tight end and good things happen.
A Vandagriff interception stopped one drive while UT turned it over when Dylan Sampson fumbled. Another missed field goal by Gilbert kept the Cats in the lead. Finally, with 4:54 left in the half Tennessee got on the board following a one-yard run by Peyton Lewis. A 32-yard field goal from Alex Raynor gave Kentucky a 10-7 halftime lead. For the Cats it was only the second time since 2006 they had a lead in Knoxville. They led 12-10 and lost 17-12 in 2006 and 17-7 and won 34-7 in 2020.
Finally Taking Over
Considering Tennessee out-gained the Cats 254-196 and held Sampson, the league’s second-leading rusher, to only 40 yards, the BBN was feeling slightly optimistic. Unfortunately, the feeling was short-lived. In our game preview, we said for Kentucky to have any chance of pulling the upset they had to limit turnovers and penalties.
Following yet another missed field goal UK’s old nemesis reared its ugly head. At their own 35 Vandagriff was sacked and fumbled. Tennessee took advantage taking the lead on a seven-yard run by Sampson. On the next series, the Kentucky signal caller was knocked out of the game after a hit by James Pearce Jr.
Gavin Wimsatt came in and led a good drive. However, he was picked off by Will Brooks. To the quarterback’s credit, he ran him down before he could get a pick-six. Two plays later Nico Iamaleava hit Miles Kitselman for a 6-yard TD and just like that it was 21-10.
Wimsatt recovered nicely orchestrating a 75-yard drive which ended on a 32-yard pass to Ja’Mori Maclin. Following the two-point conversion, also to Maclin, it was a three-point game. It was a big series for the wide receiver who didn’t catch a pass the entire month of October.
Tennessee answered going 91 yards in 13 plays. Sampson took it the last six and into the Volunteer record books. His 19th touchdown of the year broke the single-season school record of 18 set by Gene McEver 95 years ago in 1929. That was your game as a bad second half dooms Kentucky 28-18.
Looking Ahead
With the loss, Kentucky drops to 3-6 overall and 1-6 in the SEC. The less than one percent the Cats had of making a ninth straight bowl had a stake driven into it by Tennessee. They have a much-needed off week before hosting Murray State.
On the other side of the ball, Tennessee goes to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in league play. They host Mississippi State next week before heading to Georgia. With all the upsets on Saturday, we’ll see if the Vols make it into our playoff projections. They were one of the first teams out last week.
Final Thoughts
For a club playing without several defensive starters, the Wildcats did fairly well. While Tennessee ended up with 476 yards of total offense many of those came in the second half. The Cats got worn down due to depth issues and UT took advantage.
Again turnovers and penalties hurt the Cats. We talked about the two turnovers leading to 14 points. In addition, Kentucky was flagged 10 times for 71 yards. Five of those were illegal motions on the offensive line. You aren’t going to beat many good teams like that.
One bright spot was the play of Wilcox who gained 102 yards and became the first UK freshman to ever crack the century mark against the Vols in Knoxville. Overall the Cats had 376 yards against the nation’s third-ranked defense. Even so, it wasn’t enough as a poor second-half dooms Kentucky 28-18.
