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It didn’t take long for Kentucky to find out that they were still not on the same level as the # 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia built a quick 14-0 lead at the end of 1 quarter, then preceded to score on their first possession of the 2nd quarter for a 21-0. From there, it would only get worse as Georgia would go in to halftime with a 34-7 lead.
Kentucky would show a complete lack of discipline committing penalties that boggled the mind. On one play a UK player literally dropped on a player who was on the ground and the offense having nothing to do with the actual play. On another, after an incomplete pass, UK again had a player simply hit a Georgia play well after the play was over. Noone could understand the motivation behind both plays as they only served to keep Georgia drives alive.
One week after the Wildcats ran roughshod over the Florida Gators, this game would be the complete opposite as the #1 Bulldogs would dominate every aspect of the game. Georgia would run up 608 yards in total offense against a Kentucky team that was “supposed” to have a top tier defense. When you look at the strength of the teams UK has played, the stats are not all that impressive. With the exception of the Georgia game, UK opponents have a combined record of 10 wins and 20 losses. The first three teams on their schedule are a combined 4 wins and 13 losses.
Defensively UK had 5 consecutive games holding their opponents under 100 yards rushing. Georgia had 173 yards rushing. In those same 5 games, UK’s defense held their opponents to 244 yards or less. Georgia shredded UK’s defense for 435 yards passing. At the end of the day, UK’s defense gave up 608 total yards to the Bulldogs.
A deeper look in to the stats show that this was a complete domination by the best team in the country.
Georgia had 34 first downs, to the Cats 12. Georgia was 6-11 on 3rd downs, UK was 2 of 11. This game wasn’t even close. Ray Davis coming off a 280 yard rushing day for Kentucky was held to 59 yards on 15 carries. For UK to have any chance to beat the Bulldogs, they had to have a flawless game from their QB Devin Leary. and for the 2nd week in a row, he simply did not perform. Coming off a 9 completions in 19 attempts for 69 yards against Florida, Leary completed 10 of 26 passes for 128 yards. In his last 2 games Leary is an abysmal 19 for 45 for 197 yards with a competition rate of 42%.
Kentucky’s goal is to put this beatdown behind them and focus on the upcoming Missouri game before they hit their bye week. After their bye week, they host a much improve Tennessee team. UK will have a lot to over come against Missouri especially if they let the taste of the Georgia loss continue to linger.
