Cutter Boley averaged 20 yards per completion in Saturday night's win. (UK Athletics Photo)
By LARRY VAUGHT
This was the perfect script for Kentucky football.
Give quarterback Cutter Boley his first 2024 start against an outmanned Eastern Michigan, get off to a good start with a defensive turnover, and finally manufacture some explosive plays.
All that worked Saturday night as UK pounded Eastern Michigan 48-23 as Boley completed 12 of 21 passes for 240 yards and no scores with no interceptions.
“That was the main thing about this game was could they show some promise in the passing game?” UK Radio Network play-by-play announcer Tom Leach. “This is not an SEC defense, but I thought Cutter showed great poise in the pocket. I thought even with the incompletions, there were opportunities to make a play on the ball. For the most part, he put the ball in the right spots.”
Former UK receiver Jeff Piecoro, who is now the UK Radio Network analyst, made a key point about Boley several times during the game and again after the game.
“I thought on some plays he was throwing the receivers open and throwing before they would make cuts,” Piecoro said. “(Former starting quarterback) Zach (Calzada) was trying to be perfect, where Cutter was saying, ‘I am letting it fly, go get it.” He had no turnovers, so if you do that, you have a chance to win.”
You definitely have a chance to win when you can produce explosive plays, something Kentucky had trouble doing last week in a loss to Ole Miss.
— Ja’Mori Maclin had a 36-yard gain on his only target.
— Tight end Josh Kattus had three catches, including one for 34 yards.
— Receiver Fred Farrier had a 33-yard gain on his only reception.
— Hardley Gilmore had two catches for 48 yards, including one for 32 yards.
— Tight end Willie Rodriguez had a 25-yard gain.
— Receiver Kendrick Law, who had a TD catch nullified by a penalty, had a 23-yard gain.
— Seth McGowan had a 17-yard run while rushing 18 times for 104 yards.
— Third team running back Jason Patterson had 80 yards on 13 carries, including a 29-yard run.
“The chunk plays, the explosive plays were back,” Piecoro said.
Boley directed a lot of those “chuck plays” with the decisions he made, but he praised teammates for making them happen.
“We have weapons all over the place. We have dudes all across the board who can make plays,” Boley said. “I am not worried about who is lined up on who. As a quarterback, it is really comforting knowing I’ve got dudes who make plays. I don’t have to worry about doing superhero things. Just let them make plays.”
Kentucky struggled to make plays offensively against both Toledo and Ole Miss. The offense — and the UK fan base — needed an energy boost before the Cats have an open date and then return to SEC play. Boley and the Cats provided that Saturday night.
“Something I was looking forward to was trying to score some points and move the ball. Our operation was much better, too,” Stoops said after the game.
Stoops was also especially happy that UK’s physicality continued to show, especially with the offensive line.
“We are definitely making progress. We had to be better, and we are better,” Stoops said. “We know the competition will get better and better. We are going on the road to play an SEC opponent (South Carolina) in our next outing, and that will be a big challenge. Our O-line is very passionate. They want to play for the tea, and our running backs are running very hard.”
6 Responses
Boley provided the spark, but Eastern Michigan provided the fuel for this win.
Boley looked good – will have to be little more selective in his throws against SEC secondary’s. And the blitzes will be brutal.
3rd string defense cost the spread by 1/2 point. Vegas smarter than the average bear. 😢
Well. Good for Cutter Boley. Now we all know he can play football. Actually I was very impressed with a lot of his throws. He obviously loves tight ends and that's a good thing. Maybe this will take a little of the pressure off the wide receivers and give them a little more incentive to get open which has been a problem of late. Again, this was not a SEC defense.
Good game Cats. Here comes the SEC again next week and probably the most difficult stretch of games I see in a long time.
What's up with Stellato? To white to run routes? Why do we never run slant routes? Every pass is 20 yards or more that's a problem. We won't get 20 yards a completion against any SEC team. What's wrong with 6-8 yard passes? Maybe that's why the QBs throw around 50% because they have to throw over the entire secondary. Stellato has the best hands on the team. He caughts 60 something passes at Clemson the last 3 years. All of a sudden he comes to Kentucky and he gets 0 targets. 0 receptions? I heard all summer that he never drops the ball. We need that on this team. Someone with sure hands. Another thing after our receivers break through the defense why do we always get a holding call on someone who doesnt even matter on that play. We will have a beautiful play run and it gets called back for holding on someone who can't even make a play on the ball. The Eastern Michigan QB Kim threw for over 350 yards against us. A sec team. If this is any indication at were our passing defense is I'm kinda worried . Vanderbilts QB will pass for 400 yards on us.
I have wondered for a couple of yrs why we would not throw slants over the middle. I actually think Hamdan is just that limited as a OC that it never crosses his mind. He will have to take a look at the film to make that decision. Our 1st down efficiency last night was just atrocious yet not too many folks are talking about it. We have been 3rd and long for most of the season also. Can anyone answer the question…..What does Gran actually do to help this team? I thought he was supposed to be the offensive guru some time back.
Agree completely about intermediate throws.