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11 seconds in to the game told you all you needed to know about the UK vs Tennessee match-up. Hendon Hooker hit JaVonta Payton on a 75 yard pass play and the slugfest was on. Tennessee would hold on for a 45-42 win. The stats for this one are mind boggling to say the least
Kentucky would dominate nearly every stat to include running 99 plays. The Cats would hold a 35 to 17 edge in first downs, 612 total yards to 461 yards for the game. UK held an incredible 46:08 time of possession to Tennessee’s 13:52. Neither team would punt the ball. Let me say that again, there were NO PUNTS in this game.
On the yardage comparison for this contest was also one sided in favor of UK. Kentucky would run the ball for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns compared to the Vols 145 yards and 1 score. UK would throw the ball 50 times for 387 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tennessee would be 15-20 attempts for 316 yards and 4 scores. With UK dominating the stats, Time of Possession and individual stats the question is, HOW DID THE CATS LOSE?
Some fans point to the Non Facemask call, but the fact is, yeah the call was missed and yeah Stoops drew a huge penalty due to the non call, BUT, the Cats converted and got a first down. Did the non call hurt, sure but not as much as the coaches 15 yard penalty. UK’s defense repeatedly got burned on big plays and UK’s Levis tossing a pick 6 surely didn’t help.
As we said last week, Kentucky very easily could be 2-7, probably should be 4-5 and should be extremely fortunate to be 6-3. Take out the Louisiana Monroe opener and their LSU beat down, and you are left with 4 wins all 7 points or less that easily could have been losses. The good news is Kentucky has back to back winnable games and should be able to beat Louisville on the last regular season game. There is a reason you play the games on the field and not on paper. On paper, UK should be 8-1 right now, but that simply hasn’t happened.
