Quarterback Will Levis did a little bit of everything running to get the ball to the end zone four times against Louisville. (UK Athletics Photo)
Thank you Las Vegas. Kentucky obviously took exception to the Las Vegas oddsmakers instilling Louisville as a 3-point favorite in the Battle of the Bluegrass and proved it by dominating the Cardinals 52-21 Saturday night in Louisville.
Kentucky amassed 511 total yards and was never really threatened by the Cardinals after Louisville’s opening scoring drive tied the game 7-7. After that, it was all UK.
Coach Mark Stoops admitted he thought his team played with extra motivation because it was an underdog despite bringing an 8-3 record into the game this year and having two easy wins over Louisville in the last two meetings.
“I didn’t understand it (the point spread). They don’t give it to you because you are the favorite,” Stoops said on the UK Radio Network after the game. “That is why I was pissed off we gave up those two late scores. It was not that close.”
Kentucky receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who was not recruited by Louisville, tried to downplay what role being an underdog had in the game.
“We knew that we were the better team. We just had to go out and prove it. At the end of day, we just went out and dominated,” Robinson said.
He liked what he saw off the field as much as the domination on the field.
“Around the second quarter we saw their fans leave and all that was left was blue (UK fans). That’s what happens when you whip somebody’s butt,” Robinson said.
Quarterback Will Levis ran for four touchdowns and 113 yards. He insisted a week ago he knew what this rivalry meant even though this was his first UK-Louisville game after transferring from Penn State.
After each score, he held up one, two, three or four fingers to indicate how many times he had scored and also gave the L’s down sign in the end zone, something that Louisville coach Scott Satterfield did not like two years ago when UK beat the Cardinals in Lexington.
“It was just a lot of passion and energy and ended on our terms,” Levis said.
Kentucky now has three straight wins over the Cardinals and all have been in dominant fashion. Satterfield said he really was not sure why his team struggled against Kentucky.
“We didn’t play well tonight. That’s the bottom line. It wasn’t just one side of the ball. I think had it been one side of the ball that didn’t play well, then you’re still going to be in the game, but it was both sides that didn’t play well,” the Louisville coach said.
“When that happens, it snowballs on you and it’s not going to be a good outcome. For whatever reason, we didn’t put it together on offense or defense, and this is what ended up happening.
“Nothing went well for us tonight and everything went well for them. But I give them the credit, those guys played better. They came and outplayed us tonight, so it’s disappointing, but we’ll get better.”
5 Responses
The 3rd consecutive beat down gives real credence to the "Little Brother" tag.
Truthfully I didn’t see this coming, I thought our defense played better than they have in the previous weeks. I knew we could score and it would be a shoot out. But I’m glad I was wrong that was a fun game to watch the cats dismantle Louisville. Go cats!!!
I was a little shocked we stoned their offense, but thought we could score enough to win a tight game. Stoops is so right. Kentucky’s made great strides in OL/DL recruiting and development since his arrival and that’s where the game is won and lost.
That game last night was the most complete football game UK has played this season, maybe in the Stoops era IMO. UK humbled the Cards, the favored Cards I might add. Coach had his team prepared for sure. Hard to believe that favored fact.
I sure hope they gave Levis the game ball, he deserved it. UK has themselves a very talented QB now, and earned themselves some much needed respect as well with this win. C-Rod came to play and pounded the Louisville defense for 100 plus yards, and thanks to the Oline too….no fumbles. My Man!!! He is a UK great…..forever! The entire UK football team in 2021, but especially on a chilly night in Louisville, made all us "shell shocked" football fans very proud! Just a basketball school my A$$. That outing in Louisville has to help recruiting. Victory against that bunch is such a high. Go win a nice bowl game Cats and get No. 10.
I just read where Coach Satterfield’s father passed away in North Carolina just hours before the football game against UK. Coach never mentioned it in his post game statement, per UL’s SID. I am so sad to hear this, and I for one will say a prayer for Coach Satterfield and his family. He gave UK all the credit for it’s win.