18
2-8, 2-8
41
4-6, 4-6
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
3 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 18 |
|
|
10 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 41 |
Game review: Football | | Tim Letcher
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Chris Rodriguez Jr. he ran 14 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns, while Kentucky ended the regular season by beating South Carolina 41 to 18 Saturday night at Kroger Field.
Asim Rose also passed 100 yards in the night, also running 14 times for 101 yards and a score. Rose also managed a 26-yard pass.
Quarterback Terry Wilson connected in 17 of his 26 passes for 201 yards and also ran 14 times for 46 yards and a touchdown in the game.
South Carolina assumed initial ownership and marched into Kentucky. And on the third down, the Gamecocks seemed to score on a touchdown pass. However, the move was called back to hold and the Gamecocks had to settle for a 38-yard field goal attempt. But Parker White pushed the right shot and the game went on without goals.
Kentucky picked up the ball and drove to South Carolina with a good mix of passes and racing moves. In the fourth and third in South Carolina 25, Wilson reached Josh Ali in a starting pattern for a first descent, taking the Cats into 10. But the Cats failed to reach the end zone and were content with a 22-yard field goal that Matt Ruffolo converted, giving the UK a 3-0 lead with 5:41 to go to the end of the first quarter.
On their next inauguration, South Carolina faced a second and five, but Zaquandre White was stripped of the United Kingdom Jordan Wright, who also recovered the fumble and took it to South Carolina 26. From there, Rose ran 25 yards to a yard line, then Chris Rodriguez Jr. took it to the touchdown. Ruffolo added that PAT in Kentucky led 10-0 with 4:19 to go.
South Carolina joined the board at the end of the first quarter. Gamecocks started in Kentucky 40 thanks to an initial 52-yard return by Dakereon Joyner. But the drive stalled and the Gamecocks settled for a 47-yard field goal that White converted to reduce the lead to 10-3 with 1:45 to go. That would be the score after 15 minutes of action.
After the teams exchanged punts, Kentucky picked up the ball on its own 19 and quickly moved the ball across the field. A couple of conclusions from Wilson to tight end Justin Rigg, one 36 yards and another 21 yards, put the Cats in the goal position. And Rose did the rest, advancing eight meters to the touchdown. Ruffolo added PAT again and the Cats led 17-3 with 10:30 to the end of the break.
In its next shot, South Carolina moved the ball to Kentucky territory before Yusuf Corker took a pass from Luke Doty in UK 36. But the Cats were unable to do anything with the possession and were forced to kick. South Carolina returned the favor, betting on its next possession.
Kentucky took over on its own 39 with 4:40 remaining at halftime. The Cats kept the ball on the ground, moving it to the South Carolina red zone. And in the third and goal of the two, Rodriguez loaded the stack into the end zone for his second touchdown in the game. Ruffolo added another PAT and the Cats led 24-3 with 1:14 to play at halftime.
South Carolina tried to get something with his next possession, but Doty fumbled and Wright made another recovery, giving the Cats the ball in South Carolina 33 with 42 seconds remaining in the middle. The Cats had a great conclusion for Allen Dailey Jr. on the first move of the move, but was called back due to a penalty. But South Carolina returned the favor with a passing interference on the next play, giving the Cats the ball at 23 with 23 seconds to play at halftime.
After giving three unsuccessful kicks in the end zone, the Cats settled for a 41-yard field goal from Ruffolo, who hit the target, giving the Cats a 27-3 lead when the break ended.
In the second half, Kentucky got the ball first and the Wildcats increased the advantage. Again, it was a good mix of passes and runs that allowed the Cats to advance on the field. Kentucky used 13 moves to cover 75 yards, ending with a one-yard touchdown run by Wilson. Ruffolo’s PAT made 34-3 Cats with 7:28 remaining in the third quarter.
South Carolina had its first touchdown of the game in possession of the next ball. Kevin Harris, who had 210 yards running in the game, made a handoff and turned left for a 15-yard touchdown. White’s PAT reduced the UK lead to 34-10 with 5:21 to play in the third. That would be the score after three quarters.
The Gamecocks would score again in a 30-yard pass from Doty to Joyner with 5:12 remaining. And a two-point conversion resulted in 34-18, but South Carolina did not come close. In fact, on the first play of the next shot, Rodriguez broke the left side and ran 79 yards for his third touchdown of the night. Ruffolo’s PAT made 41-18 with 4:56 to play.
Kentucky will now wait to discover its destination in the postseason. That information will be released in the coming weeks.