Kentucky Falls to Missouri in Embarrassing Fashion
LEXINGTON – October 14, 2023 – Michael Willis
The Wildcats returned to Kroger Field on a cool, windy day to face the Missouri Tigers, and were looking to make up for the embarrassment of last Saturday versus Georgia. However, it was more of the same lack of discipline and dropped passes that caused the loss in Athens and emptied the stadium with 10 minutes left in the game.
The Wildcats started the game with purpose and jumped out to an early 14 to 0 lead. The defense looked great and didn’t allow Missouri on their half of the field for the entire first quarter. However, that didn’t continue in the second quarter. Missouri scored at will on Kentucky taking a 17 to 14 lead into the locker room at the half. The Tigers gained 171 yards in the second quarter and only allowed the Cats to gain 17. The fans were in disbelief at the end of the half and wondered where the first quarter team went.
The second half didn’t start any better for the Wildcats with a fumble on the first by Barion Brown. Missouri added another field goal to their lead and never looked back to win the game 38 to 21.
Missouri’s fake punt that scored the touchdown in the second quarter seemed to throw a wrench into the gears of the Wildcat players on both sides of the ball. Kentucky accumulated 14 penalties for 122 yards. Several of the penalties were unsportsmanlike penalties that makes fans frustrated. In the post-game interview, Defensive Coordinator Brad White, stated that “they have to understand that sometimes turning the other cheek isn’t a sign of weakness.”
The amount of dropped passes was also frustrating. Devin Leary only completed 14 of his 27 passes, many of which were catchable passes dropped by the receivers. Due to the lack of passing completions, the little success that UK found on offense was due to the play of Ray Davis. Davis had another impressive game rushing for 128 yards and caught a pass for a touchdown. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and may be the only positive play on the team.
Kentucky has a bye week next Saturday before playing Tennessee in Lexington on Oct. 28. If the Cats expect to pull a win out in the game there will have to be major improvements made in the next two week.
Game Summary
1st Quarter:
Missouri won the coin toss and chose to receive. After forcing a 3 and out the Wildcats scored a touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Devin Leary to Ray Davis and gave the Cats the first score of the game. [Score: UK 7 Mizz 0] On the following Missouri possession, the Wildcats regained the football on an interception by Maxwell Hairston. Kentucky scored their second touchdown on a quarter back keeper run by Devin Leary for a 13-yard touchdown. [Score: UK 14 Mizz 0]
2nd Quarter:
Missouri Scores on the opening drive of the second quarter on a punt fake pass from Luke Bauer to Marquis Johnson for a 39-yard touchdown. [Score: UK 14 Mizz 7] Missouri scored for the second time in the second quarter on a 25-yard field goal. [Score: UK 14 Mizz 10] A third score for Missouri late in the second quarter on a pass from Brady Cook to Theo Wease for an 18-yard touchdown. [Score: UK 14 Mizz 17]
3rd Quarter:
Kentucky’s Barion Brown fumbled on the first play for the Wildcats which resulted in a 31-yard field goal by Missouri. [Score: UK 14 Mizz 20] Kentucky retakes the lead on a 4-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Brown-Stephens. [Score: UK 21 Mizz 20]
4th Quarter
Missouri Scores another touchdown on a 1-yard rush by quarterback Brady Cook. [Score: UK 21 Mizz 28] The Tigers score their second touchdown of the quarter and push the game beyond UK’s reach with a 19-yard rush by Cody Schrader. [Score: UK 21 Mizz 35] A 29-yard field goal by the Tigers ends the game. [Final Score: UK 21 Mizz 38]