On Saturday, the Kentucky Wildcats traveled to Athens looking to end several negative streaks. In addition, the game against Georgia was the second in a six-game gauntlet through the SEC. Furthermore, they were facing a Georgia team coming off its first loss of the year. While Mark Stoops’s club did some good things, it wasn’t enough. Let’s break it down as Kentucky’s losing streak rolls on, 35-14.
Cats Fall By Three Touchdowns
A Slow Start
In the loss to South Carolina, Kentucky scored on its first possession. On Saturday, it was Kirby Smart’s team who did the scoring. UGA took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards in 12 plays. Quarterback Gunner Stockton took it the final seven, and it was 7-0.
On the Wildcats’ first drive, a punt by Jacob Kauwe pinned the Bulldogs at their own four-yard line. The Cats couldn’t get a stop as Georgia went 96 yards in 13 plays, aided by a Kentucky personal foul. Stockton’s second TD run, this one from six yards, put Georgia up 14-0.
Late Half Miscues
Behind Cutter Boley , Kentucky put together a nice drive to start the second stanza. Needing only 1:45 the Cats went 75 yards in four plays to make it 14-7. Boley hit Josh Kattus on a nice 29 yard strike and suddenly it was a ball game. When Jordan Lovett picked off Stockton things were really looking up. However UK ended up punting on their next two drives.
Over the years, we’ve talked at length about Kentucky’s inability to convert in the two-minute drill. Those issues reared their ugly head again. Now trailing 21-7, the Cats put together a great drive before the half, but it fell apart.
On third and one, the Cats couldn’t get lined up, letting 20 seconds run off the clock before Stoops finally called a timeout. Boley found Kendrick Law to keep the drive going, ultimately getting inside the 10. However, they got no farther, and when Jacob Kauwe missed a 26-yard chip shot, the Cats got nothing.
Pulling Away
On the first drive of the second half, any chance the Cats had at pulling an upset quickly went away. A Seth McGowan fumble ended a good drive. To make matters worse, the UK back was ruled down originally. Georgia challenged it, and the play was overruled. Kentucky should have tried to snap the ball before the review, but it didn’t happen.
Dillon Bell’s second score of the day from three yards out put the game out of reach at 28-7. Again, miscues railroaded another good Kentucky drive.
Stockton’s second touchdown pass made it 35-7 heading into the fourth period. The Wildcats were able to get another score on a five-yard strike from Boley to Law, and that was your game. Kentucky’s losing streak rolls on in a 35-14 loss to Georgia.
Looking Ahead
With the loss, Kentucky went to 2-3 overall and 0-3 in the SEC. They have their second bye week before returning home. On October 18th, they’ll host Texas, who’s making their first ever trip to Lexington.
On the other side of the ball, Georgia improves to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. In addition, they haven’t lost back-to-back regular-season games since 2016. Next week, they travel to Auburn for the 130th renewal of the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.”
Final Thoughts
With Saturday’s loss, Kentucky has now dropped eight straight conference games since beating Ole Miss last season. That’s over one calendar year since a conference win. We said in our preview that UK needed to run the ball, and that didn’t happen. The Cats only mustered 45 yards on the ground. However, they did throw it for 225 as Boley continues to improve each week.
They managed to end one streak on Saturday as they scored two touchdowns against a Power Four club for the first time in 12 games. That’s considered progress, right?
There’s been a lot of talk about Stoops, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, and the future of the program. The noise will only get louder as the season goes on and losses pile up, especially during a bye week.
What is true is that excitement around the football program is at rock bottom. At this point, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Throw in the fact that they’ll only be favored against Tennessee Tech, and 3-9 is looking more and more likely.
Next week’s bye comes at the same time as basketball’s “Big Blue Madness.” Mark Pope has a squad that many think can get to the Final Four. Because of that, interest in the football program is at Bluto Blutarski levels. Whatever happens, we’ll be on top of it. For now, Kentucky’s losing streak rolls on as they lose to Georgia 35-14. It’s the Wildcats’ 16th straight loss to the Bulldogs.
Main Photo: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
