Kentucky cannot afford slow start against Tennessee

Kentucky cannot let Tennessee build a big early lead and win Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)

If Kentucky is going to beat Tennessee — or even stay in tonight’s game — it has to play better than it has in past games in the first quarter.

“We cannot start slow like it has happened at times this year,” UK offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello admitted this week.

At times? Kentucky has scored just once in seven games on its opening possession this season. The lone score came in UK’s 31–0 win over Youngstown State.

In four Southeastern Conference games, Kentucky has not scored more than 13 points in the first half in any of the four. And linebacker Jordan Wright returned an interception to the six-yard line to set up a UK touchdown in the first half at Florida when the Cats got their 13 points.

Kentucky had three points in the first half against Mississippi State, seven against South Carolina and 12 against Mississippi.

Tennessee doesn’t mess around and normally gets off to big leads. The No. 3 Vols took a 20-0 first half lead against LSU and had Alabama down 28-10 in the first half before winning 52-49.

“The last thing you want to do is go into a hostile environment like that, late at night is to play from behind and play into their game,” Scangarello said. “Their style of play, that’s what they’re trying to do (jump in front) And they’re very, very, very good at that.”

“So we got to play great complementary football. We have to take care of the football. We have to limit the mistakes, penalties and all that. And if we can do that and play our style game, we’ll see what happens.”