Terry Wilson threw for 201 yards in Saturday's win. (SEC Photo)
It was not stress-free but it was also not an overly stressful win for Kentucky. The Wildcats dominated the first half and eventually beat South Carolina 41-18 Saturday night in a game both teams played with rosters shrunk by COVID-19 issues. Kentucky had 17 players out for various reasons while South Carolina had just 46 players available, including only 16 on defense.
Kentucky got three touchdowns and 139 yards rushing, including a 79-yard burst to end the scoring, from Chris Rodriguez along with 101 yards rushing from A.J. Rose. Quarterback Terry Wilson completed 17 of 26 passes for 201 yards to eight different receivers.
Grateful was the key word Kentucky coach Mark Stoops used after the game considering all his team encountered this season on and off the field.
“Really grateful for everyone desperately trying to finish this the right way,” Stoops said. “Through a difficult and trying season they really laid it on the line tonight. Our mindset and effort was right. It was not perfect but they really played hard.
“I think that is the big word. Grateful. Grateful to the seniors for what they have meant to this program.”
The win ended UK’s regular-season at 4-6 and was UK’s best scoring game since losing 42-41 to Mississippi in week two. Not counting the win over Vanderbilt, UK had managed just 26 points total in four other games — all losses —before erupting against South Carolina.
Stoops also said “relief” was a fair word to use about just getting through a season with COVID, death of offensive line coach John Schlarman, offseason medical issues for linebacker Chris Oats and 10 SEC games.
“I think that is a fair word right there. Relieved. For coaches, you do not want to feel that way but this year that is a fair word,” Stoops said. “Just to get through it and persevere through difficult times.”
Quarterback Terry Wilson certainly had to persevere. He came back after injuring his knee in the second game in 2019 and not playing again. He admitted the season had plenty of ups and downs, including many UK fans questioning whether he should be benched.
“It was really fun to get this win and finish out how we did,” Wilson said. “It was definitely satisfying to finish like this. Things happened during the season and we just had to adapt and execute what we could. We had a lot of ups and downs. This team stuck together.”
Kentucky ran for 291 yards and threw for 201 yards in one of its best balanced performances of the season.
“It was good to see. It really was,” Stoops said. “We felt like we could do that most of the year. There were many issues. It’s hard to go back right now and see the what-ifs.”
Linebacker Boogie Watson had eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss, against South Carolina and said Stoops was right about the toll a 10-game SEC schedule put on teams and then dealing with the death of “coach Schlarman made it even tougher to get through” the season.
“It was brutal. But to end with a win is a good feeling and showed we pushed through adversity,” Watson said.
Rose agreed about it being a “long year, rough year” for everyone.
“To finish like we did, it felt great to do that,” Rose said. “I was just blessed to play. There was a time I thought we would not play this season. Take it for what it is. I am just glad we got a chance to play the game we love.”
