Kentucky Starts Slow But Finishes Big Against Vanderbilt

· Yahoo Sports

| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor

Heading into Saturday night, the Kentucky football team was on a roll. After all, they are on a five-game winning streak and coming off a first-ever win at Oklahoma. In addition, head coach Will Stein became the first coach since Alpha Brumage in 1913 to start his Wildcat career 6-1. They faced an opponent in Vanderbilt who came into the game winless in league play. These are the kind of games UK has lost in the past. For a while it looked like that may happen again. However, the Cats put it together after taking a while to get going.

Once they did, Kentucky took care of business and ran their winning streak to six. Let’s break it down as Kentucky starts slow but finishes big against Vanderbilt 34-17.

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Kentucky Starts Slow But Finishes Big Against Vanderbilt

Coming Out Flat

Maybe it was all the huge SEC games the Wildcats have won on their current winning streak. Or maybe it was playing a Vanderbilt team that was 0-4 in league play. Whatever it was, Kentucky came out very lifeless. Granted, they’ve started slow in many of their games this year, but this one was even slower.

The Commodores dominated the first period, controlling the ball for over 11 minutes. However, to Kentucky’s credit, they limited Vandy to only one field goal. That came on a 30-yarder by Brock Taylor. The Commodores are one of 18 FBS squads to not score a first quarter touchdown, and the Cats kept that streak going.

Following Kentucky’s second straight three-and-out, Wilson Berry pinned the Commodores at their own five-yard line. However, Jared Curtis led Vandy on a 16-play, 95-yard score which took nearly nine minutes off the clock.  The final three came on a pass from Curtis to tight end Jayvontay Carter, and just like that it was 10-0. For many in the BBN who have seen this happen far too many times and were left wondering when the Cats would show up.

Finally A Wake Up Call

After doing nothing on their first two drives, Kenny Minchey and the Wildcats got it going. The UK signal caller led a 75-yard, seven-play drive that ended on a seven-yard strike from Minchey to DJ Miller, and the deficit was three.

Following a Vandy three-and-out, the Cats put together a 79-yard drive this time around. The capper came on a one-yard run by Willie Rodriguez, who took a direct snap and was actually looking for fellow tight end Henry Boyer. However, the play took too long to develop, and Rodriguez took it himself.

That quickly, Kentucky went from trailing by 10 to up 14-10 at the half. But they weren’t done, as Kentucky starts slow but finishes big against Vanderbilt.

Doing What They Do Very Well

Kentucky picked up where they left off in the second half. Minchey led another impressive drive ending in another touchdown. This time, offensive coordinator Joe Sloan called up some trickery. Backup quarterback Brennen Ward took it in from ten yards behind some great blocking, and UK led 21-10.

To his credit, Curtis, who played very well, got Vanderbilt to within four. On a fourth and three from the UK 34, he found Ja’Cory Thomas on a perfect pass, and the lead was four.

Kentucky’s one of the best in college football in forcing turnovers. Something we talked about in our game preview was that Vandy can be turnover-prone.  That’s exactly what UK did, forcing turnovers on back-to-back possessions. First a fumble recovery by Tavion Gadson and an interception by Ty Bryant. However, the Cats could only muster two field goals after what looked like pass interference calls didn’t go Kentucky’s way.

Minchey scored on a one-yard run, then the defense held the rest of the way as Kentucky starts slow but finishes big against Vanderbilt 34-17.

Looking Ahead

With the win, Kentucky goes to 7-1 on the season and 5-1 in the SEC. As a result of Georgia having a bye week, the Cats sit in first place in the league all by themselves. In the process, they break a losing streak to Vanderbilt, who had won two in a row and three of the last four.

They have a much-needed bye week before heading to Knoxville for a battle with Tennessee. The Volunteers lost at South Carolina 27-24. Of course, the Cats won at Columbia 35-34 in overtime. Furthermore, they’ll remain in the playoff when our next bowl projections come out.

On the other side of the ball, Vanderbilt drops to 3-5 on the season and 0-5 in league play. They also have a bye next week before traveling to Mississippi State in two weeks.

The Last Word

If you told us on October 24th Kentucky would be 7-1, and in first place in the SEC, we’d say “let’s go buy a lottery ticket.” However, that’s where we are. They are also 5-1 in league play for the first time since 1977. In addition, they finish October perfect for the first time since that same year. Stein’s first year couldn’t be going any better heading into November.

It was another steady performance for Minchey, who threw for 203 yards and a score and ran for another. After the slow start, Kentucky outgained Vanderbilt 376-262 and had their best day of the year, converting 8-13 on third down.

Put it all together, and it’s a great day for the Wildcats and the BBN as Kentucky starts slow but finishes big against Vanderbilt 34-17.

Main Image:  Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

 

 

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