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The ‘Cats played a hard-fought close game to the No. 1 team in the nation on Saturday night. Their effort came up a single point short as they fell to the Georgia Bulldogs by a score of 13-12. The Kentucky defense was the story throughout the game, holding Georgia to just 63-yards in the first half. They finally allowed a touchdown in the second half and that proved to be enough for the Bulldogs to pull out the win in Lexington. Kicker Alex Raynor hit a school record long 55-yard field goal in the loss for Kentucky, adding additional kicks of 32-yards, 40-yards, and 51-yards totaling all 12 Kentucky points.
The ‘Cats ran for 170 yards as a team, with Sumo-Karngbaye totaling 98 yards on the ground. Wilcox added 43 rushing yards and Vandagriff scrambled for 68 yards (42 negated due to sacks). Overall, it was arguably the toughest the ‘Cats have played in over 2 years and the best the defense has looked in recent memory. The ‘Cats were driving in their final full drive of the game with 3-minutes to play, and Coach Stoops elected to punt the ball from the Georgia 47-yard line on a 4th-and-7 attempt. That decision showed little faith in the offense and essentially dwindled the ‘Cats chances to near zero. The decision to punt will be a question that potentially haunts Stoops for the remainder of his tenure at Kentucky. The biggest win since 2007 against LSU was yards away, but the ‘Cats fell just short once again.
Pre-Game Thoughts:
The ‘Cats entered Saturday nights primetime matchup with the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs as a 21.5-point underdog coming off one of the worst losses in the Stoops era. The ‘Cats fell hard to South Carolina at home a week ago by a score of 31-6 while accumulating just 44 total passing yards in the game. A handful of plays turned the tide for Kentucky in the game, including 2 fumbles that fell into the Gamecocks arms. The ‘Cats were never able to turn the momentum and struggled to the finish line in the game. The offensive line play has been the story to start the season, and not in a positive sense. The Kentucky offensive line has been one of the worst graded Power 5 team lines in the country. The lone bright spot for the ‘Cats offense last week was RB Sumo-Karngbaye, who amassed 70 yards on the ground. The Georgia Bulldogs have lost just 2 games in the last 3 seasons, with both losses coming to Alabama. They have been the epitome of excellence in college football under head coach Kirby Smart. A well-rounded offensive and defensive team that consistently supplies premium prospects to the NFL year in and year out. They are led by QB Carson Beck, one of the front-runners for the Heisman trophy early in the season. For the ‘Cats to get back on track, they look to play a focused and clean game on both sides of the ball. A win on Saturday night would mark the biggest win under the Stoops coaching regime. The ‘Cats finished at -21.5-point underdogs. The over/under was set at 45 total points in the game.
Game Recap:
First Quarter
Kentucky won the opening coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. Georgia received the opening kickoff as a touchback and began their first drive on their own 25-yard line. Childress stopped the ball carrier for a short gain on the first play of the game. Etienne took the next carry for first down yardage. The ‘Cats held firm on the drive and forced a Georgia punt on their first possession. The ‘Cats committed two penalties on the punt but ignited the crowd after the defensive stand to start the game. Kentucky began their first drive on their own 1-yard line. Vandagriff executed a QB sneak to find more room for the offense then scrambled for a gain of 17-yards. Key caught a kick out-route for a short gain of 6-yards. Kentucky got a new set of downs after a defensive holding against Georgia. Two short runs from Sumo-Karngbaye left Kentucky with a 3rd-and-long. Vandagriff found Key for a first down gain of 10-yards. The ‘Cats couldn’t find yardage on the next 3 downs and were left to punt. Georgia began their next drive on their own 13-yard line with 6:34-minutes to play. Childress attacked Etienne behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 5-yards. Childress them bee lined for another tackle at the line of scrimmage to force a 3rd-and-15. Beck fumbled the snap but picked it up and threw it away. Georgia was forced to punt once again. Kentucky began their second drive at the Kentucky 49-yard line with 5:17-minutes to play in the first quarter. Vandagriff found Brown for a gain of 18-yards on the first play of the drive. The ‘Cats drive was stalled via a facemask call that pushed them back 15-yards. Raynor nailed a 55-yard field goal to put the ‘Cats in front 3-0 with 2:45-minutes to play in the first quarter. The 55-yarder was a Kentucky Football school record. The ‘Cats defense continued to swarm the ball carrier on the next possession forcing a 3rd-and-8. The defense held and forced a 4th-and-1 to end the first quarter. Kentucky led 3-0 following the first quarter of play.
Second Quarter
The Bulldogs kept their offense on the field for the 4th-and-1 attempt. Georgia attempted to get the ‘Cats to jump offsides, as they did a week ago, but the ‘Cats held and forced another Georgia punt. Kentucky began their next drive on their own 25-yard line. Brown took a screen pass for a short gain on the first down play. Vandagriff found Key for a 3rd-and-4 conversion and a gain of 7-yards. The ‘Cats couldn’t find the yardage for another 3rd down attempt and were forced to punt. Georgia began their drive on their own 22-yard line with 11:29-minutes to play in the half. Two quick stops from Kentucky forced another Georgia 3rd down. Beck’s pass was tipped and completed for a first-down gain. Childress thought he had a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown but it was ruled incomplete upon review. Kentucky forced a punt and began their next drive on their own 8-yard line. The Kentucky offense couldn’t get much going but gained a first down on a roughing the passer penalty by Georgia. Another hands to the face penalty on Georgia pushed the ball to the Kentucky 44-yard line with 7:09-minutes to play. Vandagriff scrambled on a 3rd-and-12 for a first-down to keep the crowd alive. Vandagriff fumbled the ball and Georgia recovered on the Kentucky 23-yard line. The Kentucky defense held the Bulldogs to another 3-and-out to force a 34-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3 with 3:48-minutes to play in the half. Sumo-Karngbaye took a first down carry for 5-yards. Sumo-Karngbaye took the next two carries for a first-down gain to push the ball to the Kentucky 46-yard line. Sumo-Karngbaye fumbled on the next carry but Dingle recovered for Kentucky. Karngbaye gained another first-down and Farrier caught a 6-ayrd pass. Vandagriff lowered his shoulder on a 3rd-down run to gain a first-down. Sumo-Karngbaye carried it for 9-yards to the Georgia 22-yard line. Sumo-Karngbaye again carried it for 8-yards to the Georgia 14-yard line with 9-seconds to play in the half. Raynor hit a 33-yard field goal to put the ‘Cats back in front by a score of 6-3 at the half.
The Kentucky defense was the story in the first half, holding the Georiga offense to just 63 total yards in the half (32 yds passing, 31 yds rushing). It is the lowest first half yardage total in the Kirby Smart era for Georgia. Zion Childress led the defense with 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 tackle for loss and 1 pass breakup. The Kentucky offense was led by RB Sumo-Karngbaye with 13 carries for 56 yards. WR Key added 23 yards on 3 receptions. Vandagriff added 7 carries for 51 yards but lost 42 yards on 3 sacks. The ball rarely bounced the ‘Cats way in the first half, as they had the potential and opportunity to be up by two scores. An interception return called back was a blow to the team and crowd, but the defense continued to respond to hold Georgia. Georgia gained just 3 first downs in the half to Kentucky’s 12. A tremendous half of football from the Kentucky Wildcats against the No. 1 team in the country.
Halftime: Kentucky 6 – Georgia 3
Third Quarter
The ‘Cats received the ball to start the second half and began their first drive of the second half on their own 17-yard line. Sumo-Karngbaye took the first carry for a gain of 5-yards. Vandagriff scrambled for a first-down gain on the next play. Maclin caught a 14-yard dart from Vandagriff. Wilcox took a carry for a gain of 15-yards and another first-down. Wilcox took consecutive carries for another first-down gain to the Georgia 30-yard line. Sumo-Karngbaye took a 3rd down carry for 6-yards and Kentucky was forced to attempt another field goal. Raynor hit a 40-yard field goal to put the ‘Cats in front 9-3 with 9:03-minutes to play in the third quarter. Georgia began their first drive of the second half at their own 25-yard line. Beck had Bell wide open but overthrew him. Beck found Lovett for a big 33-yard gain. Raynor tackled Frazier for a loss of 5-yards, then the Kentucky crowd forced a false start to push the Bulldogs to a 2nd-and-20. Beck found Bell on the next play to regain first-down yardage. Beck found Young on a 3rd down. Bryant tackled Frazier for a loss of 4-yards at the Kentucky 12-yard line with 4:19-minutes to play. The Kentucky defense held again on 3rd down to force a Georgia field goal. Woodring converted a 30-yard field goal to make the score 9-6 Kentucky with 3:52-minutes to play in the third quarter. Kentucky was forced into a 3-and-out on offense and punted it back to Georgia. The ‘Cats defense forced a 3rd-and-short from the Georgia offense. Etienne took a 3rd-down carry for a gain of 12-yards. Kentucky led 9-6 at the end of the third quarter with Georgia driving down the field.
Fourth Quarter
Jackson tackled Etienne for a short-gain on the first play of the fourth quarter. Etienne took the next carry for a first-down gain. The Bulldogs had a 3rd-and-2 from the Kentucky 3-yard line. Robinson took a 3-yard carry in for the first touchdown of the game. Georgia led 13-9 after the PAT with 12:20-minutes to play in the game. Kentucky began their next drive on their own 25-yard line. Sumo-Karngbaye caught a pass for a first-down gain on the first play of the drive. Brown caught a 3rd-down pass for a first down gain. Wilcox carried it for a medium gain then Sumo-Karngbaye picked up the first down on the ground to the Georgia 32-yard line. Back-to-back empty plays left Kentucky with a 3rd-and-10. Maclin let one go through his hands and the ‘Cats were forced to attempt another field goal. Raynor nailed a 51-yard field goal to make the score 13-12 Georgia with 8:01-minutes to play. Georgia got the ball at their own 25-yard line. Etienne fumbled the exchange on the 2nd-down run but recovered for a loss of 5 yards. The ‘Cats forced an errant throw to force Georgia to punt once again. Kentucky began the next drive on their own 16-yard line. Sumo-Karngbaye carried it for a gain of 4-yards. Georgia was called for a defensive holding on a 3rd down throw to push the ball to the Kentucky 30-yard line. Vandagriff scrambled for a first-down gain on the next play. Sumo-Karngbaye took the next carry for a 8-yard gain. Wilcox took the next carry for a first-down. The Georgia defense forced a 3rd-and-8 attempt with 3:06-minutes remaining. Kentucky was forced to punt after a failed 3rd down. Georgia got the ball on their own 15-yard line with 3-minutes to play. Beck found Lovett for a gain of 33-yards on the second play of the drive. Georgia fumbled the ball but recovered it for a first down with 1:40-minutes to play to seal the game for the Bulldogs. Kentucky forced Georgia into a 3rd-and-9 with 1:04-minutes to play and no timeouts remaining. The 4th down play for Georgia came with 18-seconds remaining on the game clock. Georgia punted and Kentucky got the ball back on their own 20-yard line with 9-seconds to play. Vandagriff completed a pass to Dingle for a gain of 12-yards with 3-seconds to play and one play remaining. Vandagriff again completed the final play for a gain of 5-yards and the ‘Cats fell to Georgia by a single point, 13-12.
Final: Kentucky 12 – Georgia 13
Game Stats:
Total Yards:
Kentucky – 284 (114 Passing, 170 Rushing)
Georgia – 262 (160 Passing, 102 Rushing)
Turnover Differential:
Kentucky 1 – Georgia 0
Time of Possession:
Kentucky – 35:02 minutes
Georgia – 24:58 minutes
Player Stats:
Offense:
Brock Vandagriff – [(14 comp – 27 att) (114 yds) (0 TDs) (0 INT)]
Demie Sumo-Karngbaye – [(22 car) (98 rush yds)]
Jamarion Wilcox – [(9 car) (43 rush yds)]
Barion Brown – [(3 rec) (34 yds)]
Defense:
Zion Childress – [(6 totTk) (5 solo) (1 TFL) (1 Pass BrUp)]
Ty Bryant – [(6 totTk) (5 solo) (1 TFL) (1 FF)]
D’Eryk Jackson – [(6 totTk) (3 solo) (1 Pass BrUp)]
Deone Walker – [(4 totTk) (1 Pass BrUp)]
The ‘Cats (1-2, 0-2 SEC) will again stay in Lexington for their fourth consecutive home game next week to take on the Ohio Bobcats (2-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. EST. The game will be televised on SECN.
