Kentucky was looking to break a two-game losing streak to South Carolina on Saturday. Following a weather-shortened win over Southern Mississippi, the BBN was feeling pretty good about things heading into the SEC opener. Unfortunately, those good feelings didn’t last long. It was ugly, really ugly at Kroger Field. Let’s break it down as South Carolina Blows Out Kentucky 31-6.
Unable To Get Anything Going
Kentucky’s first-half possessions looked like a broken record, four punts and turning the ball over on downs. Time after time the Carolina defense caused all sorts of havoc disrupting Brock Vandagriff and the Wildcat offense.
On the Gamecocks’ second possession, LaNorris Sellers hit Mazeo Bennett Jr. on a 24-yard pass and it was 7-0 USC. It was a total blown coverage by the Wildcat defense.
Trying to get something going Mark Stoops went for it on fourth and one from the Wildcat 30. Vandagriff was stuffed and Carolina converted it into a field goal for a 10-point lead. With the passing game unable to get going offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan turned to the run. Following 18 straight rushes UK finally got some points on the board. Two field goals of 32 and 39 from Alex Raynor made it 10-6 at the half. At that point, you had to feel good about the Cats’ chances. You would be really wrong.
From Bad To Worse
A season ago Kentucky gave up big plays on third down time after time. On Saturday it reared its ugly head again. On a third and 14 from the Wildcats 48 yard line, Sellers hit Bennett on a 32-yard strike. One play later Sellers hit Joshua Simon and it was 17-6.
Following another Wildcat punt lightning struck again, not the kind from last week. Converting a third and 11 Carolina scored again making it 24-6. Two plays after Stoops told the ABC’s Molly McGrath what the Cats needed to do to get back into the game Vandagriff sailed one that was taken to the house by Nick Emmanwori and that was pretty much it.
Gavin Wimsatt came in at quarterback and immediately drove the ball deep into Carolina territory. However, he threw an interception, and what little chance UK had quickly turned to none as South Carolina Blows Out Kentucky 31-6.
Looking Ahead
With the win Kentucky falls to 1-1 on the season and had now lost three straight to Shane Beamer. The schedule doesn’t get any easier as they host Georgia at 7:30 at Kroger Field. They’ll be looking to break a long losing streak to the Bulldogs. Kentucky last beat Georgia in 2009 and last won in Lexington in 2006. Kirby Smart’s club had no trouble with Tennessee Tech 48-3.
As for South Carolina, they improve to 2-0 and 1-0 in conference play. Beamer’s club returns home next week for another conference battle against LSU.
Final Thoughts
There’s no sugar-coating this one, it’s as bad of a loss as Stoops has had in his twelve years in Lexington. Back in the Summer, this was a game we said they had to win in order to have a successful season. Not only did they not win, they were run off the field. It continues a troubling trend for the Cats. Over the last two seasons, they’ve gone 1-3 at home in SEC play. With Georgia coming in next week that stat’s not likely to improve.
Taking it a step further after last year’s 51-13 loss to the Bulldogs the UK head man told the BBN if they wanted to compete they needed to step up and donate to NIL. Well, the faithful did just that and Kentucky’s gone 3-6 since then. That includes two bad losses to South Carolina.
UK’s program was in really bad shape when Joker Phillips was let go and Stoops took over. He’s done some remarkable things during his time here. However, the last couple of years haven’t been nearly as good. After looking like they were ready to challenge Tennessee as the second-best team in the league UK’s going the wrong way.
Kentucky is 2-8 in their last 10 SEC home games, their worst record in a stretch of 10 SEC home games since November 3rd, 2012 to September 19th, 2015
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) September 7, 2024
What Next?
How do the Cats right the ship? Stoops gets paid nine million a year to figure it out. The Cats looked unprepared and not ready to play. In our game preview, we said they had to win the battle up front. It didn’t happen as Dylan Stewart and the Gamecock defense wreaked havoc. For the game, they had 11 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Granted the Cats lost linemen Gerald Mincey and Jager Burton for parts of the game. Still, you must give your quarterback time.
Although, if you are looking for a bright spot the Cats did run for 139 yards led by Demie Sumo-Karnbaye’s 70. In the end, having more penalties (11) than completions (6) won’t get it done.
It wasn’t pretty but thanks for checking out our recap as South Carolina blows out Kentucky 31-6. We’ll be back with a Georgia preview soon.
