2024-10-13 14:55:03
The juices don’t always get flowing when it’s the Vanderbilt Commodores standing on the other side of the field, but Saturday was different.
It was a long day waiting for the Kentucky Wildcats to kick off against a Vandy team that inexplicably upset Alabama a week ago.
Kentucky opened as double-digit favorites, but it felt like winning this game would require a focused effort.
The first half was forceful as Kentucky was plagued with untimely penalties and poor execution. They’d go into the break down 14-7.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was 9/11 and tossed two scores in the first half.
The Commodores would take advantage of Kentucky’s lack of execution and control most the second half.
UK never really had in a chance in this one simply because they couldn’t get out of their own way.
Vandy makes it two in a row in Lexington. The Cats are now 2-10 in the week following ir last 12 SEC home games.
Unacceptable.
Here are four things to know from Kentucky’s third loss of the season.
Diego Pavia can play
Following up his monster performance against Alabama, Pavia would throw for 143 yards and two scores. He led a 97-yard drive to start the game and really flexed his ability to keep the defense off-balance.
Then, he ended the second half with another brilliant stretch to give the Dores a 14-7 lead heading into the break.
After an awkward takedown in the third quarter, Pavia would leave the game and return in a knee brace. His gritty performance was impressive.
When Pavia is cooking, there’s not much opposing defense can do to stop him.
Saying that, Kentucky’s defense did enough to win this game. The offense was just woefully inefficient, and Pavia did just enough for the Dores to squeak out the win.
Dane Key continues to shine
#6 once again showed why he’s going to be playing on Sundays. Key would grab eight receptions and scored a fourth-quarter touchdown that gave the Cats some life.
It’s been solidified that Dane Key is the most consistent option for this Kentucky offense that continues to sputter.
At this pace, Key may hear his name called at some point in the 2025 NFL Draft if he opts to leave.
Undisciplined play
Kentucky couldn’t get out of its own way in the first half racking up eight penalties for 71 yards, including several in critical situations.
The second half produced much of the same.
Late in the third quarter a botched snap would cost the Cats three points. After a Dane touchdown the special teams unit failed to convert an extra point.
Special teams was a nightmare all night.
Kentucky would finish the night with 12 penalties for 106 yards.
Undisciplined play begins to mount as a concern, especially when you consider that Mark Stoops’ team is coming off a bye week. Then again, his teams have consistently been awful coming out of byes. Somehow in Year 12, he still hasn’t figured out how to perform coming out of a bye.
UK can be very frustrating to watch sometimes, and cleaning up the play has to be a primary focus moving forward.
Next week the Cats will travel to one of the loudest environments in the country when they travel to the Swamp to take on the Florida Gators.
A trip to the Swamp is up next
Kentucky will travel to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators. Even though UK has had recent success, playing in the Swamp is never easy.
If the Cats can’t figure out how to execute and avoid penalties it’ll be a long night in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Florida will be chomping at the bit coming off a heartbreaking 23-17 OT loss to #8 Tennessee.
Now, let’s discuss this one.
