Kentucky's defense could not contain Tennessee's offense. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Once again Kentucky football has shown when statistics do not always tell the truth.
The previous game Kentucky dominated the stats and lost 16-13 in overtime to Texas. This time, it was Kentucky scoring 34 points, amassing 476 yards and keeping the ball for 36 minutes but yet never really being in the game with Tennessee.
The Vols beat Kentucky 56-34 and shredded the UK defense that dominated Texas for 504 yards and averaged 8.5 yards per play. The Cats also gave the Vols 14 points when Tennessee returned a deflected pass for a score and only had to go six yards for a score after a Kentucky fumble.
The firepower Tennessee has and Kentucky’s poor perimeter defense was a terrible combination for the Cats who gave up more explosive plays than I could count. Tennessee had three receivers with 105 or more receiving yards and Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 20 of 26 passes for 396 yards and three scores. Kentucky had one sack, three tackles for loss and no quarterback hurries as Aguilar easily picked apart the UK defense.
“It’s just the shock and awe of Tennessee’s defense that Kentucky could not handle,” UK Radio Network analyst Jeff Piecoro said.
How bad was the Kentucky defense? So bad that Piecoro, who is optimistic but honest, said on the UK Radio Network postgame show that he couldn’t really pick a defensive player of the game.
Kentucky dug itself a 28-7 hole with 13 minutes, 52 seconds left in the first half. The game looked over. But Boley went to work and Kentucky cut the lead to 28-21 late in the first half only to have the defense collapse.
Tennessee drove 10 plays in 75 yards in 1:32 before the half ended to push the lead to 35-21.
“The series before the end of the half was crushing,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said.
On its first possession of the second half, the Vols needed only 25 seconds to go 70 yards and score again. Next came a five-play, 63-yard drive in 1:29 that pushed the lead to 49-21. That was 208 yards and three touchdowns in 3:27 to break the game open by the midway point of the third quarter.
“They put you in stressful situations and are elite at running by you. They really played at a high level,” Stoops said. “It’s disappointing when you can’t put it all together. Defensively we really didn’t have any answers. They did whatever they wanted to do. You have to win one-on-ones and be able to cover and we are not doing that right now.
“We had no answers. They are very explosive and very talented and that is not a strength of ours with the injuries we had.”
Stoops said he did not want to make excuses because of defensive injuries but made it clear the secondary he thought would be the strength of the defense this season has been beaten down physically and mentally.
Kentucky’s lack of defense wasted a stellar performance by redshirt quarterback Cutter Boley. After completing almost 80 percent of his passes against Texas, he completed 26 of 35 (74 percent) for 330 yards and five scores against Tennessee.
“I was pleased with the way Cutter was playing and the way he is playing is making the receivers better. He is making the offense better and receivers are more confident getting open and catching the ball because they are confident Cutter will get the ball to them,” Stoops said.
He got the ball to freshman DJ Miller five times for 120 yards and two scores. Miller did not play the first four games but has excelled with Boley at starting quarterback the last three games.
Oklahoma transfer JJ Hester also had four catches for 23 yards and two scores after not catching a pass in the first six games. He also had a key block on Kendrick Law’s 71-yard scoring catch.
“They just trust him (Cutter). If you work hard, run routes the right way and get precise in what you are doing and have a quarterback going through his progressions the ball will find you,” Stoops.
15 Responses
I admit i didn't see the game . But I'm not surprised by the Vols score but am by UK's score. I didn't think they'd score that much
The UK DL fought hard until the play calls gave TN too many breaks!
The UK secondary has been most game for several seasons. If the UK DL puts an opponent into 3rd & long, it’s almost a given that UK secondary will give up long pass!
The Defense lost heart after the HC & OC made some very dumb decisions calling TIMEOUT TWICE (when TN had zero TO’s left!) in the last 15 seconds with TN at the UK 47 at 3rd & 7. Those 2 timeouts gave TN time to prepare for 10 yard pass, a 24 yard pass & the 13 yard TD pass!
••At one point the UK DL had held TN to 39 yards on 19 rushes! Just a 2 yard average!
••After the players surely got discouraged by coaching/ play calling blunders, TN then rushed 14 times for 69 yards, a fraction shy of 5 yards/run.
Is there anyone really more uninspiring to look at and listen to that Stoops? Again, he looks like the loneliest sideline coach in America as he seems to only interact with the refs and constantly watches the monitor. I can't imagine having to walk into the locker room at halftime and hope there is motivation there. Yes, I can too because we all get the opportunity to listen to him during the week, pregame, and after the game, but I can't listen to him speak anymore as always rinse and repeat. I hope mentally that he is starting to prepare for life beyond UK and also hope and pray it comes at season's end if not before.
We play however the opposing team is playing. That shows how bad we really are. If we play a good defensive team. It's a close game. If we play a team with a great offense and no defense. We play literally no defense. I've never seen a QB sit in the pocket and just launch it down the field for a perfect pass every time. Play off the wide receivers a little more. Play your corners in a zone and your safeties in a man to man so when they throw a long ball they are double covered on it. Aguilar just had to see what receiver was in single coverage then it was a foot race to the football. Just like last season the defense is wore out. Our best cornerback has been hurt all season. I doubt he plays in a game until maybe the Vanderbilt or Louisville game. I do believe all the teams that we have left to play are all beatable. Whether we can play a clean game on both offense and defense. At Auburn is about as easy as it going to get in the SEC. Florida doesn't even have a head coach and they play us at Kroger field. We should be able to win that one. Tennessee tech is a gimme. Vanderbilt is very very good but roster wise they are beatable. The Louisville and Vanderbilt games to end the season looked winnable at the beginning of the season. I just dont see us beating anyone but Tennessee tech at this point. The season is basically over get all the 2024 and 2025 classes playing time. Play all the 2025 class in at least 4 games so they get experience but keep there redshirt. Stoops needs to be fired right after the Louisville game. If he isn't our program is done. Back to back losing years. This is when it starts hurting recruiting. Nobody wants to get destroyed by every team you play this is worse than what ol Joker Phillips was doing. At least he loved Kentucky and the fans. Stoops is done. The only good in all this is that Cutter Boley is getting experience and will be much better next year.
Cutter Boley continues to impress. I think we have found a real diamond in the rough with Cutter. We scored enough points to win but couldn't keep TN out of the end zone. A really sad and heartbreaking performance by the KY defense. I always thought they were tougher than that. Not blaming the coaches on this one. We just didn't execute.
Very seldom, game to game or year to year, does Stoops have a good Defense and a good Offense. It is usually one or the other. He can't put it all together.
As I have stated before, Stoops miscues with clock management, substitutions, etc. cost UK about 14 per game throughout the season. That is a lot to ask the players to overcome.
As far as Cutter Boley goes . It shows how inept the UK coaching staff is. He could've started this year no doubt . You cut your teeth at some point , why couldn't he have started ?
Grant, you are right. This demonstrates the inability of this coaching staff to evaluate talent, much less develop it, especially at the QB position.
The two first half turnovers gave Tenn. 14 easy points. That was really the difference in this game.
The UK offense was able to put points on the board because this Tenn. defense is very weak.
But for the 14 free points given to the Vols by the offense, the defense did a reasonable job against a very powerful offense.
Take away the 14 freebees, and it is 42-34, and probably 42-35 because Stoopid would not have tried for 2 after the 4th TD.
The interception and pick 6 was one of those plays, a pass batted in the air and the defender catches it on his way to the endzone. Boley's pass was not thrown high enough to go over the defender's hands.
The fumble, upon fumble, upon fumble upon fumble play was bizarre, and only a UK football team is destined to lose those bizarre, once in a lifetime plays, and UK did indeed lose that battle.
Those 2 plays killed the Cats last night.
How long does White need to develop a pass D to be able to handle the Heupel train? His star has taken on a lot of tarnish the last couple yrs also. We need a total coaching changeout at season't end. It makes you wonder what this team and staff does during the week for preparation. These players we recruit back there are coming in overrated or we do not have a quality staff capable of player development. Suspect it is combination of both.
Boley looked good but he deserves a better offensive minded coach to play for in 2026.
Even an 1/2 decent OC and a HC who does not choke the OC would be major improvement
The TURNING POINT
UK was down 0-14 and 7-21 but fought back to within just one TD at 21-28 with less than 2 minutes before the Half! UK was back in the game and the offense was clicking!
Then, the absolutely 2 dumbest back to back timeouts (dumb squared!) called in UK FB history! Gifts to TN (out of timeouts), facing 3rd & 7 at the UK 47 with only 15 seconds before the Half!
** 15 sec left in the Half
••• TN 3rd & 6 @ UK 47
– UK calls a timeout giving TN (out of timeouts) a chance to decide on the best play to keep moving & then completes a 10 yard pass for 1st down.
** 10 sec left in the Half
••• TN 1st & 10 @ UK 37
– UK calls a timeout giving TN (out of timeouts) yet another chance to decide on the best play to keep moving & then completes a 24 yard pass for to the UK 13 yard line for a 1st down.
** 5 sec left in the Half
••• TN 1st & 10 @ UK 37
– UK gives up ANOTHER PASS & it’s 13 yards for a TD
All of a sudden it’s 21-35 and
that gift TD broke the camel’s back & UK players never recovered to play with the same intensity as in the 1st Half, even with the 2 big turnovers.
UK DL…
••At one point the UK DL had held TN to 39 yards on 19 rushes! Just a 2 yard average!
The next 14 rushes were for 69 yards at a 5 yard per carry average, after losing heart due to coaching errors.
I agree this was the most important 1:40 of the game.
Clock management, or lack thereof, strikes yet again.
How many times does this coaching staff have to experience late 2nd quarter possessions like this by allowing opponents those difference making scores?
They either refuse to learn or are incapable of learning.