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Jeff Piecoro was so overwhelmed by Kentucky’s defense, which limited Auburn to 241 yards and had 12 tackles for loss and seven quarterback sacks, that he could not come up with a single defensive player of the game on the UK Radio Network postgame show.
Instead, the UK Radio Network analyst went with defensive coordinator Brad White for his overall game plan — and who could argue with that.
“We knew they were a ground-and-pound team. Coach White called some things he had not called before,” safety Jordan Lovett, who had an interception, six tackles, and one tackle for loss, said on the network postgame show.
However, the Kentucky defense had two unusual stars — punter Aidan Laros and receiver Cam Miller.
Yes, Miller, a true freshman receiver who had three catches for 28 yards, made the game’s biggest defensive play in the fourth quarter. Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley was hit as he threw, and the ball was intercepted by Auburn’s AnQuan Fegans. During the interception return, Miller stripped the ball away from Fegens, and UK tight end Henry Boyer recovered. Miller was a two-way prep standout in New Jersey who had 28 tackles and two interceptions his senior year.
And get this — it was the first opponent fumble that Kentucky had recovered this year, and it came in game eight on a play created by a UK receiver.
Anyone thinking players might have quit on coach Mark Stoops should look at the way Miller hustled to get in position to create the tackle that forced the potential game-saving turnover. His play forced Auburn to use two timeouts to get the ball eventually back inside its 10-yard line rather than midfield and with less time on the clock.
“It was an effort play. Instincts just carry over,” Stoops said on his postgame radio show. “It is just about being a football player. The moment was not too big for him as a freshman. To punch it out like that was really the play of the game.”
It was, and that’s why Stoops did something he has not done this season — he gave Miller the game ball in the locker room.
“I put Cam up there on my little bench where I talk to the team. He gave a little speech and we presented him with the first game ball of the year,” Stoops said.
Laros was spectacular flipping field position for Kentucky in a game that featured 13 punts. He put the ball inside the Auburn 20-yard line on all six of his punts. He averaged 44.8 yards per punt with a long of 57. Only one punt was even returned, and that went for only 11 yards.
“Our special teams played lights out,” Stoops said. “Of course, the defense played great all night, but field position, the punting, getting first downs, and flipping the field was huge. And that goes unnoticed in the stat sheet. I thought the punt game was huge.
Jacob Kauwe also hit a 48-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. He has made 10 of 13 tries this season, with two of his misses from 50-plus yards.
In fairness to Piecoro, UK did have a lot of great defensive performances:
— Linebacker Daveren Rayner had eight tackles, including five solo stops and one tackle for loss.
— Linebacker Sam Greene had seven tackles with six solo stops, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass breakup.
— Linebacker Alex Afari had six tackles, three solo stops, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup.
— Safety Jordan Lovett had six tackles, four solo tackles, one tackle for loss, and one interception.
— Defensive lineman Kahlil Saunders, on his birthday, had four tackles, two solo stops, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry.
16 Responses
That was a great heads up play highlighting an impressive UK defensive effort the entire game. Certainly a team effort with the offense making this big critical defensive play.
Barney will want to sign Stoops to a an extension on top of this extension now.
The one that really needs a extension is Hamdan because you must admit the man keeps the BBN and FB world guessing what we are going to do on first down. It continues to be the definition of INSANITY and he would be my first Fire at EOY if not sooner.
Agree! How many times do we run up the middle on 1st down? It’s constantly 2nd & 9, 2nd & 8, etc. It’s NOT working, yet we keep doing it!!
The 3rd down call vs Auburn with about 2:20 to play was one of the worst play calls ever (Why, oh why do you pass there??!!).
If we’re smart enough to fire B.H., Stoops may survive as Head Coach.
I am going to call it what it was…a very fortuitous play. We are still a 3 win team with one of those being an SEC win that took over 13 months in coming and it was against Auburn of whom many good high school teams could have beaten. Beat Florida and Tennessee Tech which are both home games. Then beat either Vanderbilt or Louisville on the road to get to 6 wins and get a Music City Bowl bid. Win that game to finish the season at 7-6 and Stoops will have earned the right to coach Kentucky for another year. Finish the season with 4 wins or less, then Stoops should resign as that would be back to back 4 win seasons. Unfortunately, a 5 win season will be enough for Barnhart…unless Barney gets fired first!
I am willing to bet the house that there is not a high school team in the nation that could beat Auburn or the Cats. I am really happy for the team and Stoops. Auburn had not lost a game when holding a team to 10 or less points since 1991. It was two teams playing for pride and probably their coaches job. Cats win and on Auburn's field. The Cats have some good but young talent. They are still growing and that includes Boley. I am glad Stoops is sticking with him through the mistakes. His future is bright. Someone spit out some analytics and predicated a big loss for Ky. Analytics doesn't take in account the heart of the players. No quit in this team and I appreciate it. Everyone wants to fire Barnhart. He hired Pope which is the savior for men's basketball according to the BBN. Brooks will take women's basketball to heights never seen before. The Volleyball Cats are good enough to win another championship. Track is at national prominence. Tennis, soccer, baseball, are better than ever. Even air rifle has won championships. Just because the haters want Stoops fired they want Barnhart gone. If you look at the coaches fired, they All have huge buyouts. Why not "pony up" some Fandom and get behind the football Cats.
I saw the analytics too. Auburn couldn't score 35 even if Kentucky defenders had one hand tied behind their backs.
A good high school team would have beat Auburn last Saturday.
I agree with you Jimmy.
One sport should never decide the fate of an AD. Barnhart has many irons in the fire and has many egos to please.
I was right. We beat Auburn. Now we will beat Florida at home. Then we will crush Tennessee tech. Then I think we split the Louisville and Vanderbilt games to go 6-6. Stoops job is saved and we will have a great team next year. Look up and down the depth chart we are a very young team. We will get better and better the next couple of years. We have a chance at the playoffs in 2026 and 2027. If we can retain the 2024 class and 2025 class we will be in great shape. I think this team will want to grow together and improve every year. Gilmore, Rodriguez, the Millers and Quisenberry will be very good receivers next year. If we can keep Boley which I think we do we will be in great shape. He will be one of the top QBs next year and he will know exactly where his receivers will be when you stack years together.
Calm down! We won a pillow fight last night.
It's better than no fight. Give credit were its due, this team is playing not like last year team that gave up.
How bad is Kentucky football? Auburn fires its coach for losing to them. Lol..
And in the meantime, we have Kentucky fans feeling warm and fuzzy about beating Auburn.
There are currently 4 head coaching and 1 OC vacancies in the SEC. One of these teams will get Sumrall.
UK10 Auburn 3 is a baseball score!
UGA 24 Fla 20
Ole Miss 30 SC 14
Texas 34 Vandy 31
OU 33 Tennessee 27
Mississippi State 38 Arkansas 35
Heck Grant half the coaches in the SEC might be fired by time the season ends
Rumor has it that PSU is down to Jeff Brohm or Brian Hartline. If it's Brohm, I wonder if the Big Dog will go with him?