UK freshmen make special plays

Trevathan blocks punt; Guy adds 96-yard kickoff return

By Chip Cosby / ccosby@herald-leader.com

The Kentucky special teams unit turned in its best performance of the season against Georgia on Saturday, playing a hand in two Wildcat touchdowns. The two biggest plays were made by true freshmen: Danny Trevathan's blocked punt deep in Georgia territory set up a Randall Cobb touchdown run in the third quarter, and Winston Guy's 96-yard kickoff return led to another Cobb score that gave UK a 38-35 lead with 12:15 remaining.

Tim Masthay also had a 64-yard punt that pinned Georgia at its own 3 late in the third quarter. When Georgia was forced to punt the ball into the wind, Brian Mimbs shanked an 18-yarder. Kentucky took over at the Georgia 20, and Tony Dixon scored on a 14-yard run early in the fourth.

About the only struggles UK had in the kicking game was due to the wind. Masthay, who has 19 touchbacks this season, had two kickoffs sail out bounds, giving Georgia the ball at the 40.

Bowl fate still up in the air

UK has qualified for bowl eligibility, but its 42-38 loss to Georgia muddied the bowl picture. Representatives from the Liberty, Chick-Fil-A and Outback bowls were on hand at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky likely would need one more win to become a player for the Chick-Fil-A and Outback bowls.

Ground game gets going

Kentucky rushed for a season-high five touchdowns, its highest total since rushing for six against Kent State last season. The last time UK rushed for five or more TDs in a Southeastern Conference game was 2005 (five against Vanderbilt). The Cats rushed 56 times for 226 yards, the most for the Wildcats in an SEC game since a 228-yard effort against Vanderbilt in 2002. Randall Cobb, Tony Dixon and Alfonso Smith all rushed for 60 yards or more against the Bulldogs. The last time UK had three rushers with 60 or more yards was in 2002 against Texas-El Paso.

Jarmon moves up sack chart

Jeremy Jarmon joined with Ventrell Jenkins for a sack of Georgia's Matthew Stafford to move into sole possession of fifth place on UK's career sacks list (161/2).

Johnson shines again

Junior Micah Johnson led UK in tackles for the second consecutive game and for the fifth time this season. He had eight stops, including a forced fumble.

Scoring mark in defeat

The 38 points were the most scored by a Kentucky team in a non-overtime loss, surpassing the 37 UK scored last season in a loss to Florida.