CATS fall to Gamecocks, looking to bounce back against Arkansas.
Columbia, SC – September 29, 2019 – Bradley Charles – Bluegrass Sports Nation
Yesterday, Kentucky traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, to square off against the South Carolina Gamecocks. It was a beautiful, hot day as 80,828 people filed into Williams-Brice Stadium. The South Carolina crowd was rowdy from start to finish.
South Carolina got the ball to start the game, sustaining a 75-yard, 11-play drive. The drive resulted in a two-yard touchdown run by Tavien Feaster. South Carolina led Kentucky 7-0 with 11:09 to go in the first quarter.
Kentucky’s first drive of the game ended when Sawyer Smith was intercepted by Ernest Jones. South Carolina took over at their own 46-yard line. South Carolina was forced to punt; Kentucky took over at their own three-yard line. The Cats were ultimately forced to punt. Max Duffy’s punt deflected off the leg of South Carolina’s Darius Rush and was recovered by Kentucky’s Brett Slusher at the South Carolina 39-yard line. Kentucky turned the ball over on downs and South Carolina began their drive at their own 31-yard line with 3:44 left in the first quarter.
The Gamecocks put together a 10-play, 62-yard drive which resulted in a 26-yard field goal by Parker White. South Carolina led Kentucky 10-0 with 11:43 to go in the first half.
Kentucky was forced to punt on the ensuing possession; Duffy’s 62-yard punt gave South Carolina the ball at their own 11-yard line. South Carolina put together a seven-play drive but was ultimately forced to punt. Kentucky started their drive at their own 10-yard line. Lynn Bowden had a 20-yard run out of the Wildcat formation, but Kentucky was ultimately forced to punt.
South Carolina took over at their own 10-yard line with 3:10 remaining in the first half. After a South Carolina punt, Kentucky ran out the clock and the score at halftime was 10-0 in favor of South Carolina.
Kentucky got the ball first to start the third quarter. Sawyer Smith was sacked from the blindside, fumbling the ball in the process. The fumble was recovered by South Carolina’s Aaron Sterling at their own 30-yard line; D.J. Wonnum was credited for the sack and the force fumble.
It only took one play for the Gamecocks to get the ball into the endzone as Rico Dowdle did the honors with a 30-yard touchdown run. South Carolina led 17-0 with 13:59 to go in the third half.
Both the Cats and the Gamecocks went three-and-out on their next two possessions. Kentucky followed with a 12-play, 42-yard drive. The drive resulted in a turnover on downs; South Carolina’s drive began at their own 41-yard line with 2:40 to play in the third quarter.
South Carolina was forced to punt; Kentucky began their drive at their own 25-yard line. The Kentucky drive covered 12 yards on four plays and the Cats were forced to punt. South Carolina took over at their own 6-yard line following a 57-yard punt by Max Duffy.
South Carolina went three-and-out and Kentucky took over at their own 26-yard line. Kentucky’s ensuing drive lasted just five plays, covering 14 yards while resulting in a punt. South Carolina’s drive began at their own 15-yard line. The Gamecocks put together a seven-play, 85-yard drive which resulted in a 19-yard touchdown run by Tavien Feaster. South Carolina led 24-0 with 7:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Kentucky went three-and-out on the following possession and was forced to punt. South Carolina followed with a punt of their own.
On the ensuing possession, Chris Rodriguez’s 44-yard run set up Kentucky at the South Carolina 34-yard line. Lynn Bowden, who quarterbacked the drive, followed with a 26-yard run a play later. Rodriguez did the honors with a 2-yard touchdown run. The score was 24-7 in favor of South Carolina with 2:32 to go in the fourth quarter. South Carolina proceeded to run out the clock. The final score was 24-7 in favor of the Gamecocks.
Kentucky’s next game will take place at Kroger Field on October 12th, against Arkansas.