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Kentucky did just enough right to stay in the game with Mississippi on Saturday, but unfortunately did just enough wrong also to eventually lose 30-23 to the Rebels.
The Cats got two early interceptions from Ty Bryant and took a 10-0 lead before Ole Miss got the offense going to take a 14-10 lead. The Rebels could never put UK away, but the Cats’ inconsistent offense was too much to overcome — along with a clearly missed pass interference call midway through the fourth quarter when UK was driving for the tying touchdown.
It was one of those games where Kentucky had a lot of good plays but just not enough on either offense or defense. This was a winnable game that could have changed the narrative for UK’s season, but instead it was another home Southeastern Conference loss, which seems to have been a given the last three seasons.
Kentucky is more physical this year, especially with the overall offensive line play and running backs Dante Dowdell and Seth McGowan. However, the lack of a consistent passing game makes it difficult to have a consistent offense. The Cats finished with 350 total yards, but a lot came in the fourth quarter when three drives produced yards but only three points.
“It’s just so frustrating because you felt like this was an opportunity there for the taking,” UK Radio Network play-by-play voice Tom Leach said after the game. “Ole Miss has a lot of new players and a quarterback making his first road start. This obviously was a game where UK had the ball down at the Ole Miss 30 or better twice in the fourth quarter, down by one score, and could not grab this game.
“The one 44-yard pass to (Ja’Mori) Maclin was the first big pass they hit, and it loosened things up. They have got to do more in the passing game because they have good running backs who can run effectively if they can complement that with the pass.”
But that seems like a big if. Starting quarterback Zach Calzada again struggled before getting knocked out in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. Backup Cutter Boley hit a 38-yard pass to Hardley Gilmore because the Cats just have not consistent rhythm to the passing game, and UK cannot win that way.
Calzada was 15 of 30 passing for 149 yards and was sacked twice. Boley completed one of three throws for 38 yards and was sacked once. Kendrick Law had six catches for 44 yards, Maclin two catches for 56 yards, and Gilmore two for 54. Dowdell ran 15 times for 93 yards and two scores, and Dowdell had 14 carries for 56 yards.
Kentucky had 355 yards, but Ole Miss, after the slow start, finished with 455 yards — 235 passing and 220 rushing.
Defensively, Alex Afari and Ty Bryant both had 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss. Bryant also had the two interceptions. Safety Jordan Lovett had nine tackles and linebacker Daveren Rayner seven. Kentucky, though, had just three pass breakups and did not have a sack.
So while Kentucky beat the betting spread, it did not win the game, and that’s what matters.
14 Responses
It is absolutely painful to watch the UK offense. I don't know it its the QB or the OC or both. Inept is the only word that comes to mind. Everyone in the televised, streamed and on site world could see how the Ole Miss defense jamed in the box and KY calls a run up the middle. Is there no imagination on this coaching staff or is it the we just do not have anyone that can catch the ball when we pass?
Of course it is both and the HC is not far behind. How can Calzada look so bad with all that experience? His skills seem to have diminished greatly since his first year. He had plenty of time to throw on his first sack and continues to show little confidence or leadership. He has had 1 very good looking pass now in 2 games and needed the receiver to be open. He continues to throw high and into coverage. We as a team and a staff continue to show that we don't belong in SEC. We are 1 play away from possibly being 0-2 and the future looks very bleak.
“Of course it is both and the HC is not far behind.”
So true… but maybe the HC is in the lead or at least tied.
“… the Ole Miss defense jamed in the box and KY calls a run up the middle. Is there no imagination on this coaching staff…”
Well stated!
Sums up about 1/2 the plays under Stoops.
Bryant's 2 interceptions were the only reason the game was as close as it was. If Boley had got some PT in the Toledo game, he might have been more confident when he had to play today. The last 3 minutes of this game took over 30 minutes to play…the agony of defeat!
UK was given a 10 pt handclicap before Ole Miss got started. It just delayed the agony instead of being an advantqge to pull off a W.
This performance absolutely justifies removing a coach during the season. The problem 100% starts with Stoops. We have seen these same scenarios repeated year after year with different OCs and different players. Stoops is the only common denominator.
Sagarin opened with UK #47 and #15/16 in the SEC.
I have not seen the Sagainin ratings after yesterday, but it won't change significantly.
UK is barely a top 50 team and is not close to SEC Competitiveness.
3-9 or 4-8 again is likely.
Welcome back to UK football as I had known it for most of my time as a fan, since 1963.
At least UK can still claim to be a top 50 football program, but even that boast is in jeopardy..
I actually kept detailed notes on all first half plays. The incompetence of the play calling was staggering. The mental mistakes were staggering. The lack of game management understanding of the coaching staff was staggering.
As pathetic as this team is coached the players still managed to stay in with a chance to win. If only the staff could have helped this was a game they absolutely should have won.
The coaches coach not to lose which is pathetic.
My best bet is Cutter leaves. When he came in he was given a chance to be a legend. I expected to see a face of steely resolve and determination to take over the game and win yet I saw nervous looking laughs and broad smiles. That is not how a leader acts when the most critical moment arises.
Also, anyone else notice how sick Stoops looks the last 2 weeks? Left side of the face droopy, eyes red and swollen, face puffy and pale? My wife is APRN who works in addiction and thinks it’s obvious.
i have thought Stoops looks unhealthy for a while. I did notice it a little more yesterday than normal.
I guess if you knew you were DMW you would exhibit some visible signs also.
He is, more ways than one.
Stoops is a alcoholic. You can tell how yellow his face looks. He looks like he's going through withdrawal during the games. He probably takes shots at halftime. Anyways back to the truth. We have seen 3 different offensive coordinators in a 5 year stretch. Coen being considered Elite. Coen also struggled calling plays at Kentucky. When interviewed and asked why he says it's the talent that we have against much superior talent. We will never be a powerhouse in the SEC. First off we will spend just as much or more on basketball than football. Which is smart because we actually have success in basketball. The problem with this is most schools in the SEC don't care about basketball. They only care about football. Now think about that for a second. If other teams are spending on football and we are spending on basketball don't you think the football team will be even worse when money is involved. Why do you think that even now when you can pay players we still can't get a 5* recruit? How Louisville gets a couple. Why can't we ever get a 5* recruit. Hell you can pay them to come? No because Kentucky would rather spend 2.3 million on JQ who has a ACL injury. We don't know if he will even be 100% or if he will even play. We paid 1.5 million for our whole offensive line. Now do you get the picture? Most teams would pay about 4-5 million for the offensive line like the Alabamas the Georgias the Texass. They will only pay about 200-500k for there starting center in basketball. See the difference. We will never win the SEC. It's like this there were dozens of QBs in the portal rated higher than Calzada. So why did we save money and get our starting QB from basically a JuCo. This all falls on Mitch Barnhart. Stoops isn't smart enough to work around the money situation. If he was foreal about making Kentucky a winner he would do what the UCLA coach did and donate half of his 9 million dollar salary to get better players. He would never do that he wants me and you to pay for the players. I make 18$ a hour. He's always asking for my money. He's a prick. I said Bryant would have a int. Even after the QB for Ole Miss got hurt we knew they weren't going to pass the ball. We started giving up chunk run plays. Another thing nobody is talking about. We were down by 7 with like 5 minutes to go and Stoops went for it on 4th down TWICE. We should have kicked 2 field goals. We would have had the ball with 1:27 left down by 1. We could have gotten in field goal range and won the game. Another thing with 1 minute and some change left in the first half we got the ball on the 30 instead of at least trying to get some points before the half. Stoops runs the clock out. Terrible game management. This is college football I've never seen so many illegal formations? I mean does the offense even practice? We need to pull the plug on Calzada and get ready for next year. Play all the freshman and get everyone ready for next year. Our line gives the QB time. But also Boley missed Law when he was wide open on 4th down. Then he missed a wide open Kattus a couple plays later. I think the reason Calzada is starting is because Boley sucks too. Why else would your start Calzada? I would play Stone Saunders and whatever happens happens. I would play both Saunders and Boley against Eastern Michigan whoever plays better gets the nod. I mean what else do you do at this point? Let a 25 year old QB ruin the season? Heck no pull the plug on Calzada. I think Saunders has the biggest ceiling in the QB room. Coen said Saunders is the definition of a winner at QB. I trust what he says.