Louisiana Monroe is one of those games that give head coaches fits. On paper, it should be an easy win, but games like this usually have a much different outcome. Although the Warhawks reside in the Sun Belt conference, this is the same ULM team that gave UK fits in 2006 losing 42-40, upset Alabama 21-14 in 2007, and lost to Arkansas last year 28-27. Keeping in mind that Kentucky still had an unsettled QB position, no Trevard Lindley, and a questionable Derrick Locke, you can imagine the Warhawks were licking their chops wanting UK to be their “SEC feel good story” of 2009.
Not so fast. The UK defense came out inspired and John “The Terminator” Connor ripped off a 39 yard run and Kentucky was in business early in this game. Conner scored on a 1 yard run and UK had a 7-0 lead before ULM knew what had hit them. After another defensive 3 and out, Randall Cobb took the ensuing punt return 73 yards for a touchdown and UK was up 14-0 just 5:42 into the game.
Armed with a big early lead, this game looked like the perfect opportunity to get freshman QB Morgan Newton some reps and get him better acclimated to the offense before Mississippi State rolls into town next week. Newton still looked very much like a freshman, going 3-5 for 17 yards and an interception in the first half, but when you have Randall Cobb to bail you out, you can win with a freshman QB. Cobb took over at QB in the Wildcat formation and carried the ball two straight times for a total of 39 yards, which culminated in Cobb’s second TD of the night. Cobb also completed 2 passes out of the Wildcat formation for 46 yards in the first half.
Will Fidler also got involved in action early and he hit John Conner on a rumbling, bumbling, 25 yard reception that gave UK a 28-7 halftime lead. The Warhawks tried to make it interesting in the first half but were their own worst enemy. They had two deep drives in the first half, yet no points to show for them, thanks to a botched fake FG and horrible clock management at the half when they threw an incompletion in the end zone.
Any “feel good feelings” of a blow out win quickly dissipated in the third quarter when the Sun Belt Warhawks pushed UK around on defense and shut the offense down. UK’s first possession in the second half lasted 7 plays and gained just 18 yards. The Warhawks responded with their third long drive (13 plays, 74 yards) that resulted in no points as they missed a FG and UK still led 28-7. UK responded with another 4 play possession and ULM freshman QB Cody Wells carved UK apart on an 8 play, 60 yard drive and the Warhawks cut the margin to 28-13. UK blocked the extra point and Will Fidler took over on offense as the game entered the 4th quarter.
That Fidler drive resulted in an interception and the Warhawks looked to make things interesting if they could piece together another drive. The Wildcat’s D responded with a safety and UK took a 30-13 lead. The Wildcat defense stepped up big after a Will Fidler fumble when Randall Burden intercepted a Well pass and returned it 50 yards for a TD. The XP was missed, but UK was clearly in control with a 36-13 lead. Matt Lenz and Ashton Cobb added 4th quarter interceptions to quell any more dramatics from ULM.
You have to say that it was a strangely unsatisfying rout for UK. There are still major questions to be answered about the QB play and you look at the three long pointless drives by ULM and this could have been a much different game.
I know it’s easy to nitpick some things, but in the end, you can’t complain too much about a 36-13 victory. The Wildcat run offense dominated the #12th ranked ULM defense which was giving up only 93 yards a game and UK gained 185. That same run defense was only giving up less than 3 yards a carry but UK exposed it for a 5.8 yard average. All in all, UK did what was expected and dominated a lesser opponent, even though it was not as pretty as we like.
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