CATS Fall Hard to South Carolina

Offense Sputters as Cocks Rout the CATS 31 to 6 

LEXINGTON – September 7, 2024 – Michael Willis – Bluegrass Sports Nation

Fall weather was in the air as the Big Blue Nation filled the parking lot at Kroger Field to watch their Kentucky Wildcats take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Cat’s SEC opening game. In many ways if felt like the first game of the 2024 season since the previous match-up against Southern Miss was delayed 2.5 hours and ended early in the 3^rd quarter due to weather. It would be an understatement to say that the players, coaches, and fans were eager to see a normal game take place. 

All of the excitement was taken out of the BBN when Kentucky failed to score a touchdown in the first half, but back-to-back field goals at the end of the second quarter pulled the Wildcats back into striking distance. The Gamecocks led at the half 10 to 6 mostly due to the lack of protection for Brock Vandagriff, which led to a run heavy offense for the Cats. 

Unfortunately, the second half did not go any better for the Wildcats and the Cats lost the game 31 to 6. The inability to pass the football combined with numerous penalties, put Kentucky in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. In the post-game press conference Mark Stoops said that he was disappointed in the way that his team fought back and he was also disappointed in the way the game was coached. 

The Wildcats possessed the ball for five minutes longer than the Gamecocks, but were still outscored by 25 points. The Cats converted only 3 of their 14 third down attempts and were called for 11 penalties that resulted in losing 63 yards.  

Except for a few mistakes in the secondary, the defense played a winnable game. They forced three fumbles and picked up an interception before the end of the half that set up the last score of the game for the Cats. Zion Childerss had a great performance making 5 tackles with 3 being for a loss and a quarterback sack. 

The team will want to improve on the mistakes made in tonight’s game, but next week Kentucky will host Georgia, who will be top ranked team in the country. The Bulldogs will expose the Wildcats’ weaknesses even worse than tonight. With only one will week to prepare for the game, Mark Stoops and the coaching staff will have their hands full. 

Game Summary 

1^st Quarter: 

• South Carolina scores a touchdown on a 24-yard pass reception by Mazeo Bennett Jr. [UK 0 SC7] 

2^nd Quarter 

• South Carolina scores a 29-yard field goal by Alex Herrera. [UK 0 SC 10] 

• Kentucky’s Alex Raynor makes a 32-yard field goal. [UK 3 SC 10] 

• Kentucky makes second field goal of the quarter, 39-yards by Alex Raynor [UK 6 SC 10] 

3^rd Quarter 

• South Carolina scores on a 16-yard pass to Joshua Simon. [UK 6 SC 17] 

• South Carolina 6-yard rushing touchdown by Raheim Sanders [UK 6 SC 24] 

4^th Quarter 

• South Carolina with a interception touchdown by Nick Emmanwori. [UK 6 SC 31]