Last week, Kentucky dismissed their little brother, Louisville in football. That would mean that in the family tree hierarchy, this week’s foe, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers would be a first cousin at best. Seeing that this was just the second meeting all time between the two teams, there was not a lot of loathing or rivalry or bad blood between the the two teams. So probably for those reasons, the buildup to the the game and even the game itself felt like a glorified exhibition, albeit on that the Wildcat’s won easily .
For the most part, Kentucky came out flat. It’s hard to get up for a team that you are not that familiar with. Well, for starters, WKU running back Bobby Rainey made sure that the Wildcats knew his name as he scampered 59 yards for a TD on just the third play from scrimmage.
Hello wake up call. Western Kentucky, the loser of 21 straight games was up 7-0.
That was all the motivation Kentucky needed. Mike Hartline completed his first two passes, then Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb moved the ball down the field, combining for eight straight carries, and then Hartline hit Chris Matthews for a seven yard TD and the game was tied at seven all. The defense made the next big move as Luke McDermott intercepted a pass and returned it to the WKU 9. A couple of plays later, Mike Hartline scrambled and dove across the endzone to put Kentucky up 14-7 as the first quarter expired.
In the second quarter, the Randall Cobb show officially took center stage. Cobb took a punt return 50 yards for a touchdown to give Kentucky a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter. On Kentucky’s next possession, Mike Hartline hit Cobb for a 40 yard pass. Derrick Locke scored two plays later and the Cats were rolling 28-7. Randall seemed to take most of the next drive off, but he made a cameo in the Wildcobb formation when he connected with Moncell Allen on a 15 yard TD pass.
The Randall Cobb lovefest was interrupted briefly as Western’s Willie McNeal returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a TD. Undaunted, the Cats received the ball with 1:15 left in the half and Mike Hartline completed four passes on a drive that culminated with a 4 yard TD pass to La’Rod King. Kentucky went in at halftime up 42-14 … very impressive condisering that Nebraska threw up 49 on the Toppers in a full game last week.
Randall Cobb was not done yet however. Midway through the third quarter, Mike Hartline hit Randall Cobb on a 35 yard touchdown pass which put UK up 49-21. And at this point Cobb’s night and most of the starters night was over. For the evening, Randall Cobb had 98 yards receiving, 26 yards rushing, and passed for a TD, caught a TD, and returned a punt for a TD. How is his name not being mentioned as a Heisman candidate?
Mike Hartline also had a very solid night, hitting his first 8 passes and hit 16 of 20 passes for 213 yards and accounted for four TD’s on the evening. Hartline is definitely playing with a purpose this season and if he can keep up this effort through the SEC season, it will be a very special season. Look, I know he will not put up the numbers like this all season, but through the first two games, he has reminded me of Chad Pennington. He is playing very smart football, not turning the ball open, and trusting his weapons to make the play when he gets it to them. Tonight’s game also answered the question of “who is the second string QB” as Morgan Newton got into the game and connected with Matt Roark on a nice 40 yard pass.
Kentucky also had a very strong ground game for the second week in a row. Derrick Locke had 110 yards rushing and a TD. True freshman Raymond Sanders scored his first two collegiate TD’s and had 32 yards on 7 carries. Donald Russell is a very solid backup for Locke. And UK got names like Avery Hibbett and Jonathan George into the stat book. All in all, UK had 206 yards on 44 carries.
The receiving corps was solid once again as Hartline/Newton hit eight different receivers and six targets had multiple receptions. One thing for sure, this is not last year’s offense and Hartline/Cobb?Locke could prove to be one of the most exciting trios in the SEC this season.
But now for the not so good … and there was a little. Through two games, the run defense has been horrendous. After getting shredded by Bilal Powell last week, they gave up 184 yards to Bobby Rainey. And this team has to get a grip on big plays. Three of the Hilltopper TD’s were on plays of 30 yards or more and when you count Powell’s TD last week, that makes four of five TD have been on big plays. Now is as good as any time to add in the woes on the special team kick return squads. Playing like they have played will get you wins against Louisville and WKU, but this matters need to be worked on before Kentucky heads into the swamp. Florida historically thrives on big plays against UK …. and if UK does not tighten things up, they will not have a chance.
But once again, not going to nit pick a win. Offense looked great. Defense and special teams … you are officially on notice. Get it in gear. Florida is two Saturday’s away.
For complete game stats, go here.
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