Halftime analysis: The 3 things Kentucky must do to win the Gator Bowl
READ MORE
Gator Bowl wrap-up: Kentucky 23, North Carolina State 21
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-North Carolina State Gator Bowl football game at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.
Expand All
With Kentucky leading No. 24 North Carolina State 13-0 at halftime of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, here are the three things that will determine whether or not the Wildcats will end the 2020 season with a victory:
1. Finish drives. Kentucky had four first-half drives that penetrated the North Carolina State 30. To only score 13 points is a disappointment that left the door open for the Wolfpack.
As has been a problem for UK all season, the inability to finish drives as touchdowns tainted a half UK otherwise controlled.
2. More third-down efficiency. The Wildcats converted only two of six third-down conversion opportunities. Against a North Carolina State defense playing without four key defensive starters, the Wildcats should have been capable of more third-down efficiency.
3. Stay aggressive defensively. A North Carolina State offense that averaged over 31 points a game in the regular season has been held without points and to only 82 yards of total offense by the Kentucky defense.
Avoiding a second-half letdown and replicating the first-half level of defensive performance will lead to UK’s third straight bowl victory.
This story was originally published January 2, 2021 at 1:32 PM.
.jpeg)
