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Monday, May. 04, 2009

Horsemen score 93 points in victory

Lorenzen has eight touchdowns in 21-point win at Peoria

PEORIA — Horsemen quarterback Jared Lorenzen had a hand in eight touchdowns and Kentucky defeated the Peoria Pirates 93-72 Saturday night at Carver Arena.

A week after giving up 83 points on the road, the Pirates defense offered little more resistance than a scout team, wasting a good offensive and special teams effort.

The combined 165 points were the third-highest in af2 history. Kentucky's point total approached the franchise record of 116, set in 2004 against Waco.

"I've never been as disappointed in a defense in all my days as a coach," said Pirates Coach Bruce Cowdrey, who sat quietly outside the Peoria locker room after his team slipped to 1-4. "How do you score 72 points and get beat by 21? How?

"Our kids didn't quit. Our offense was terrific, we made that thing a seven-point game at the very end. But our defense is just an abomination. Our personnel and our schemes are lacking on that side of the ball."

Kentucky, with Jared Lorenzen at the helm, scored on 14 of its 16 possessions. A pick, and a safety were the lone exceptions.

Lorenzen and Justin Rascati split duties at quarterback for the Horsemen, combining for 11 total touchdowns and 342 yards through the air. Lorenzen went 13-for-22 for 208 yards with four touchdowns in the air and another four touchdowns on the ground. Rascati was 16-for-20, two for touchdowns. Rascati also ran in a touchdown.

"I don't know what to say," Pirates defensive lineman Darnell Whitley said. "We have to get it together as a unit. It's shameful, 93. Am I embarrassed? No, not over the 93. I'm embarrassed that it's five games into the season and we still don't have it together."

The Pirates got kickoff returns of 54 and 58 yards, both for touchdowns, from receiver Brian Allbrooks, while quarterback Kent Smith was 17 of 31 for 227 yards and six TDs.

Kentucky's defense was only a little bit better than Peoria's. The Pirates kept on scoring, closing to within seven points with 88 seconds left in the game.

Kentucky opened the second half with a 35-yard strike to Lonnell Dewalt over Joe Phinisee for a 55-36 lead.

Smith fired 9 yards to Dante Ridgeway for a catch over the boards in the back left corner of the end zone to make it 55-43 with 10:16 left in the third quarter.

Lorenzen trotted up the middle from the 3 untouched for a 62-43 lead.

Allbrooks busted his second kickoff return, this time for 58 yards after eluding three tacklers inside the 5 to keep Peoria in it at 62-49.

The Horsemen answered with a nine-play, 47-yard drive to 69-49, capped by a lob from the 5 to 285-pound fullback Demetrious Forney with 1:39 left in the quarter.

Darren Paige's catch with 1:28 left in the game moved Peoria to within 79-72.

An onside kick followed, and Lorenzen plowed across from the 1. A few seconds later, Kentucky defensive back Matt Forbes returned an interception 30 yards for the final score.