Three takeaways from Kentucky football’s overtime loss to Ole Miss
Three takeaways from Kentucky football’s 42-41 overtime loss to Ole Miss on Saturday at Kroger Field:
1. Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss’ firepower burned UK’s defense
After losing several defensive stars to the NFL off the 2018 Kentucky team that went 10-3, there were questions about Mark Stoops’ youngish unit in 2019. But by the end of what turned out to be an 8-5 season, including a bowl win, the Wildcats were ranked nationally in the top 30 in both total defense and scoring defense, which most of its starters returning for 2020.
That turned out to mean little Saturday against the scheming of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and the playcalling of offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. Down 28-14 after Kentucky scored on its first possession of the second half, the Rebels were all but unstoppable the rest of the way and in overtime.
First possession of second half: 75 yards in four plays to cut the UK lead to 28-21. Second possession: 68 yards in 11 plays, with the Cats coming up with a fourth-and-goal stop. Third possession: 54 yards in five plays for a 28-28 tie. Fourth possession: 53 yards in just three plays for a 35-27 lead. Fifth possession: nine yards on three plays before Kiffin elected punt from his own 34 and play for overtime.
And when Kentucky scored first in OT only to have Matt Ruffolo push the extra point wide right, all the Rebels needed was a score and an extra point to win it. No problem. A defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone on UK cornerback Kelvin Joseph gave the visitors the ball at the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral hit Elijah Moore for the 3-yard touchdown. Luke Logan kicked the extra point. Ole Miss ran off the field with Kiffin’s first win as coach.
Corral was terrific, completing 24 of 29 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns. Even though Ole Miss lost 51-35 to visiting Florida last week in Tiffins debut, the Rebels gained over 600 yards against the Gators. You knew they would be a challenge for the Kentucky defense. Turned out, the Cats weren’t up to that challenge.
“We didn’t play very good defense in the second half,” Stoops said. “Holding them to 14 points in the first half, I just felt like we were just playing OK at that point. We have to play better.”
One troubling stat after two games: UK’s defense has to yet to force a turnover.
“We have to look ourselves in the mirror and had ourselves accountable,” defensive lineman Josh Paschal said.
Especially with Mississippi State coming to town next week. More on that later.
2. Kentucky’s offense showed encouraging signs
For starters, Kentucky rushed for 408 yards. It should be noted that Ole Miss’ defense allowed over 600 total yards to Florida last week, but 408 yards is 408 yards. Three different Cats reached the century mark. Chris Rodriguez gained 133 yards and scored two touchdowns on 17 carries. Quarterback Terry Wilson rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. A.J. Rose gained 117 yards and a score on 12 carries. He should have had 120 yards, but started celebrating early on a 72-yard run on UK’s first play from scrimmage and was caught from behind at the 3-yard line.
“AJ means well and is a great young man,” said Stoops, but added, “That’s not acceptable, not how we’re going to do it.”
The most encouraging sign on offense was Wilson. In his second game back after last September’s patellar tendon injury, the senior completed 14 of 18 passes for 151 yards to go with his rushing stats. Unlike in the loss at Auburn last week, he didn’t turn the ball over. And when Ole Miss took that 35-28 lead with 8:23 left, Wilson engineered a 75-yard, 12-play touchdown drive in which he completed six of seven passes, including a 29-yard strike to Akeem Hayes that set up the tying score.
“Going into the game, I knew I had to perform better than last week,” he said afterward. “That was really my mindset, focusing on what I do best.”
3. Facing a 10-game SEC schedule, 0-2 is not where you want to be.
Despite the offensive heroics, the Cats were undone by a play that should be an automatic, the point after touchdown. Matt Ruffolo was 18 of 20 on PATs last year. He made his only attempt at Auburn. He did miss a 49-yard field goal on Saturday, and had one extra point bounce through the uprights, but he was 5-for-5 heading into the kick in overtime. And missed.
“We know this season the margin for error is small,” Stoops said.
There’s no doubt about that. The Cats are 0-2 for the first time since 2016 and next up on the schedule are three consecutive games against ranked opponents — No. 16 Mississippi State next Saturday; at No. 21 Tennessee on Oct 17 and home against No. 4 Georgia on Oct. 24.
“Luke Fortner just told the team we knew this was going to be hard,” Stoops said afterward of his senior offensive guard. “We knew there would be adversity and we’re facing it now. You find how good of a team you are when you face adversity.”
They’re about to find that out, the hard way.
This story was originally published October 3, 2020 at 9:28 PM.
