Kentucky Wildcats can’t measure up to Alabama Crimson Tide in 48-7 loss
By Paul Jordan
Oct 12, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron (10) after the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Alabama defeated Kentucky 48-7. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
After Alabama took a 31-0 lead, Kentucky did something that had not been done for an entire month. Score a touchdown on Alabama. Max Smith connected with Javess Blue for a beautiful 30 yard reception that made it 31-7. Moral victories suck, but Kentucky did something that Colorado State, Ole Miss, and Georgia State could not do. And for the first time since Johnny Manziel connected with Malcome Kennedy on September 14, the Alabama endzone was dented. A span of 218:30. And the celebrating was over.
Alabama would not be stopped again for the rest of the night and scored on their last eight drives of the games after those back to back fumbles. And while Max Smith finished the game, he was clearly banged up. Thankfully Kentucky has a bye week to recover, but it looks like Jalen Whitlow may be back for that.
UK’s defense was game, but was shredded for 668 yards and allowed two 100 yard rushers. The defensive unit was a virtual patchwork as several players got dinged up and were shuffled in and out of the game. Very few teams are going to keep Alabama out of the end zone for four straight series, so you can hang your hat on that. There were some good hits early and this unit never gave up, despite the score. They were simply outclassed. There is no shame in being outclassed by Alabama.
The offense, as expected, struggled all night. You feel bad for Whitlow, but to be honest, I don’t think he would have done much more than Smith. UK had just 170 total yards and had the ball just 24:00 for the game. Ray Sanders is the only player you can say that had a decent game as he had 72 yards on 14 carries. Javess Blue did get in the end zone, but had just two passes.
Not surprising to anyone, Kentucky was thoroughly dominated by Alabama. We knew this would happen.
No one wants to be at 1-5 at the halfway mark of the season. But I assure you that this team is light years better than last years 2-10 team, despite the similar mark. UK went up against four straight ranked teams and were blown out just one time. And here is where it gets interesting.
The gauntlet is over. And Kentucky has four very winnable games on the schedule the rest of the way in Mississippi State (who beat Bowling Green 21-20 tonight), Alabama State, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee. After four ranked teams in a row, UK will face just two teams that are ranked in Georgia and Missouri. Hopefully Jalen Whitlow can return and UK can use the bye week to recover from the Alabama beatdown and come out focused the rest of the way.
It’s going to be an interesting rest of the season.