Knoxville, TN – November 2, 2024 – Matthew Hudson
A beautiful day in Knoxville, Tennessee brought out all the fans to Neyland Stadium where the theme for the game was a Blackout. Kentucky comes into the game on a 3-game losing skid while Tennessee is coming off their biggest win of the year after they upset Alabama. Kentucky has left many people puzzled throughout the year as they seem to play to the level of competition they play.
The 1st half had plenty of yards for each team but not many points to show for it. With both teams driving deep into their opponent’s territory but failing to finish drives. UK turned the ball over on downs on the 5-yard line and Tennessee missed 2 FGs in the first half.
The game felt like it was anyone’s game deep into the 4th quarter. Sampson makes UT history with his 19th rushing TD of the year. In the end the Kentucky Offense just didn’t have enough to hang with the high powered Tennessee Offense.
1st Quarter
Jamarion Wilcox makes a huge statement early as he breaks a 50-yard run on the first offensive play of the game. Taking the ball all the way down to the Tenn 27 yd-line.
Kentucky goes for it early in the game on a 4th and 2 from the UT 5-yard line. Tennessee’s defense held strong and gets the ball back for the Volunteers.
The Volunteers drive 70 yards, deep into UK territory but after 2 penalties back them up they try 43-yard FG. The attempt was missed wide left.
Kentucky strikes first as Vandagriff completes a 27-yd TD pass to Josh Kattus. (Raynor PAT – Good) UK leads 7-0 with 5:28 left in the 1st Quarter.
Big Interception by the Volunteers off a tipped pass gives them great field position at the UK 45.
Tennessee returns the favor as they cough the ball up just 2 minutes later. Sampson fumbles the ball, and the Cats recover on the UK 22.
2nd Quarter
Kentucky’s Lovett came up with the defensive play of the game as he dislodged the ball from Kitselman on a sure TD for Tennessee.
Lovetts play looks even better as the UK Defense holds the Vols on 3rd down and forces them into a 40-yard FG attempt that misses wide right.
14 play, 65-yard TD by the Volunteers with 4:45 remaining in the 2nd Quarter. Peyton Lewis punched it in from the 1-yard line for the first Tenn TD. (Gilbert PAT – Good) Tennessee ties it up 7-7.
UK make a drive late in the 2nd Quarter to the Tennessee 14-yard line but are stopped on 3rd down. Settle for a 32-yard FG from Alex Raynor. Kick is good, Cats retake the lead 10-7 with 0:30 remaining in the Half.
3rd Quarter
UT waste no time in the 2nd half as they drive all the way to the UK 16 in just 3 minutes. After a failed 3rd Down conversion UT goes for a 34-yard FG by Max Gilbert. Missed wide left and his 3rd missed FG of the game.
Big sack and Forced Fumble by Tennessee’s Joshua Jospehs gave the ball back to the Volunteers at the UK 28-yard line.
Tenn capitalizes on the great field position as they take just 5 plays to get into the endzone and take the lead. The drive was finished by Dylan Sampson’s 7-yard TD run. (Gilbert PAT – Good) Volunteers up 14-10 with 8:28 left in the 3rd.
Huge momentum swing as Tenn intercepted the Wimsatt pass and returns it 66 yards to the Kentucky 10-yard line.
Tennessee needs only 2 plays to get back in the end zone. Iamaleava completes the 6-yard pass to Kitselman. (Gilbert PAT – Good) Vols now lead 21-10 with 0:33 left in the 3rd.
4th Quarter
Wimsatt to Maclin for a big 32-yard TD. Kentucky goes for the 2-point conversion and converts. Kentucky cuts the lead to 3 and trail 18-21 with 13:31 remaining in the 4th.
Dylan Sampson breaks the Tennessee Football record and gets his 19th TD run of the year. A 6-yard run that gave the Volunteers a 28-18 lead with only 4:55 left in the game.
Kentucky QBs had a rough day. Vandagriff left the game after an injury having completed 10-17 on the day for 123 yards, 1 TD, and 1 Int. Wimsatt came in and completed 4-10 for 69 yds , 1 TD, and 1 Int.
Wilcox had a good day accumulating 102 yards on 17 attempts. The Wildcats had 168 rushing yards total on the game.
The defense held the high octane Tennessee Offense to just 28 points and forced 1 turnover on the game. The Wildcats were lead by Jamon Dumas-Johnson with 14 tackles.
Kentucky has a Bye Week next week before they go back home and take on the Murray State Racers at Kroger Field.