Levis throws for 419, CATS Romp 56-16
LEXINGTON – November 20, 2021- DAVID LEVERIDGE
Kentucky Football finished the 2021 Home campaign hosting the New Mexico State Aggies. The game also marked Senior day and some of the most beloved Wildcats in the program’s history played their last game at Kroger Field including Joshua Ali, Isiah Epps, Jacquez Jones, Joshua Pascal, and DeAndre Square. Looking back at the season Kentucky has hosted seven games and had three sell outs Florida, LSU, and Tennessee were all sell outs and played under the lights at Kroger Field. The Games against Florida and LSU will be remembered for a long time and helped Kentucky become Nationally ranked. This team and this group of Seniors leave behind a lasting legacy as member of the Kentucky Wildcats Football team.
Today’s game against the New Mexico State Aggies was an entertaining game to attend and saw a high scoring game with a combined seventy- two points between the two teams. Kentucky scored a season high of fifty-six points in today’s win. Quarterback Will Levis was impressive and had a career high with 419 passing yards and four touchdowns. Although Levis passing numbers where impressive two turnovers were costly. Wide Receivers Wan’Dale Robinson and Josh Ali amazed the crowd with great catches and long returns, and the two combined for three hundred and forty-five passing yards and two touchdowns. Robinson’s eight catches for one hundred and Eighty-one yards led Kentucky in receiving but Ali’s seven catches and one hundred and sixty-four yards and two Touchdowns helped Kentucky put points on the scoreboard. Justin Rigg’s two catches for thirty-four yards and two touchdowns were also impressive. Defensively Kentucky was solid only giving up two hundred and eighty-two yards of total offense and the defense scored on a thirty-eight-yard pick six by Quandre Mosley.
First Quarter- New Mexico opened the first quarter scoring the ball when Levis mishandled the snap and was recovered by Trevor Brohard for a twenty-five-yard fumble. Kentucky’s offense scored the ball three times in the quarter. The first scoring play for Kentucky come from a thirty- two yard passing play to Justin Rigg capping off a five play eighty-one-yard drive. Defensive back Quandre Mosley intercepted the pass from Aggies QB Jonah Johnson and returned the ball for a thirty-eight-yard pick six and Kentucky led 14-7. As the quarter was ending Running Back Chris Rodriguez added another score with a six-yard rushing touchdown on an eight play ninety-one-yard drive. At the end of the first quarter Kentucky led New Mexico State 21-7.
Second Quarter- New Mexico State scored three times in the quarter with the leg of Kicker Ethan Alberton. Albertson converted on a fifty-yard Field goal to open the scoring in the second quarter and soon followed up by making a thirty-yard field goal and just before the half split the uprights with a thirty- yard field goal. Kentucky responds with Will Levis finding Ali in stride for a nine-yard passing touchdown. Kentucky also scored on another passing play from Levis to Rigg, Rigg’s second receiving Touchdown of the game. At intermission Kentucky led New Mexico State 35-16.
Third Quarter- Kentucky scored fourteen unanswered points and put the game out of reach. The Kentucky Offense was really clicking on all cylinders in the third quarter and the defense forced several three and outs and kept New Mexico State out of scoring opportunities. Levis passed to Ali for the first scoring possession, scoring on a sixty- two yard passing Touchdown. Ali second receiving Touchdown of the game and Levis fourth passing Touchdown. Levis’s did have one costly mistake in the third quarter after finding Robinson downfield for a seventy- nine completion. The ball was placed at the two-yard line just before crossing the goal line. The next offensive play Levis threw an interception to J.J Dervil. Kentucky Running Back Kavosiey Smoke scored on a twenty-three-yard rushing touchdown and helped Kentucky led New Mexico State 49- 16 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter- With the game out of reach, the Kentucky starting offense was done for the day and allowed the reserve players an opportunity to showcase their abilities on Kroger Field. Levis had already reached a career high in passing with four hundred and nineteen yards. Lexington Kentucky native and reserve Quarterback Beau Allen got the opportunity to play and scored the game’s final Touchdown with a three-yard QB keeper scoring his first collegiate career Touchdown. Kentucky defeats New Mexico State 56-16.
Stats:
Kentucky 56 New Mexico State 16
Total Yards 707 282
Passing Yards 459 181
Rushing Yards 248 101
First Downs 29 13
Third Downs 6-9 4-16
Total Plays 71 61
Turnovers 4 2
Time of Poss. 33:53 26:07
Player Stats:
Kentucky
Will Levis 419 passing yards/ 4 touchdowns/ 1 interception/ 11 rushing yards.
Beau Allen 40 passing yards/ 1 rushing Touchdown/
Chris Rodriguez 16 carries/ 119 rushing yards/ 1 rushing Touchdown.
Kavosiey Smoke 3 carries/ 35 yards/ 1 touchdown.
Wan’ Dale Robinson 8 catches/ 181 yards/ long reception 79 yards.
Josh Ali 7 catches/ 164 yards/ 2 touchdowns/ Yards after catch 55.
New Mexico State
Jonah Johnson QB 181 passing yards/ 1 interception
Juwan Price RB 11 carries/ 51 rushing yards/ 4 catches/ 7 yards receiving
Alex Escobar WR 3 catches/ 24 yards.
Ethan Albertson FG kicker 3 FG’s 50, 30, 32 yards scoring nine points.
