LEXINGTON – November 30, 2024
Gavin Wimsatt had a pair of touchdown passes, both to Ja’Mori Maclin, but Kentucky lost to Louisville 41-14 on Saturday at Kroger Field.
Wimsatt came into the game for injured starter Cutter Boley. The Owensboro native passed for 125 yards and the two touchdowns in the game.
Kentucky (4-8) got the ball first and the Cats went to Jamarion Wilcox on three straight plays. However, on the third rush, Wilcox fumbled and Louisville recovered at took over at the UK 47 yard line. The UK defense was able to force a three-and-out and Louisville punted. The Cats took over at their own 12 yard line.
After a Kentucky punt, Louisville was able to move the ball, getting deep into UK territory. The Cardinals needed nine plays to go 60 yards and got on the board on a one-yard touchdown rush from Isaac Brown. Brock Travelstead added the PAT and Louisville led 7-0 with 7:07 left in the first quarter.
The teams would exchange punts, but early in the second quarter, Boley was intercepted by Louisville’s Tamarion McDonald, who returned it to the UK 40. The Cardinals would convert the turnover into three points, on a 20-yard field goal from Travelstead, giving U of L a 10-0 lead.
After another UK point, Louisville got a 58-yard touchdown run by Duke Watson to take a 17-0 lead. Later in the quarter, Travelstead added a 21-yard field goal to make it 20-0 with 4:45 left in the first half. That would be the halftime score.
Louisville (8-4) had the first possession of the third quarter, but the UK defense forced the Cardinals into a three-and-out. After a punt, the Cats took over at their own 27 yard line.
Kentucky would mount a drive with the ensuing possession. With Boley out of the game due to injury, UK turned to Wimsatt behind center. Wilcox had a 13-yard rush, but the big play of the drive was a Wimsatt completion to Maclin for 34 yards. Two plays later, Wimsatt found Maclin in the back corner of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown. Alex Raynor added the PAT and the Louisville lead was cut to 20-7 with 9:22 left in the third quarter.
The Cats got the ball back after a Louisville punt, but Wilcox fumbled and U of L’s Ramon Puryear scooped it up and returned it 20 yards for the touchdown. The PAT made it 27-7 Louisville with 4:59 left in the third quarter. The Cardinals would add another Watson touchdown late in the third quarter and U of L led 34-7 after three periods of play.
In the fourth quarter, Wimsatt and Maclin connected again, this time on an 83-yard bomb for a touchdown. Raynor added the PAT, making the score 34-14 with 9:49 remaining.
Louisville added a score in the fourth quarter to make it 41-14.
Kentucky opens the 2025 schedule against Toledo on August 30.