Magic runs out for "Miracle Cats", get drubbed by Georgia 44-31

I think if any game exemplifies the frustration of being a lifelong Wildcat football fan, it is tonight.  The Wildcats were coming off a win over the number 10 team in the country and just finishing up a pair of 3 point margin games to top 10 teams.  Obviously Kentucky had proved they could play against anyone.  They had a home game, a sell out, against the 3-4 Georgia Bulldogs.  A win would propel Kentucky towards the top of the SEC East and fuel talk of actually contending for the title, and the all coveted bowl game in Florida.

A loss would … well, can we book late December for Nashville …. again?

It’s hard to not be negative about tonight’s game.  Kentucky came out flat as Mike Hartline was hit by superfreak Justin Houston and fumbled on the third play of the game.  Four plays later, the Bulldogs were in the endzone.  Kentucky countered with a very nice drive down the field  converting three long third downs in the process, but the drive stalled and Kentucky settled for a FG.  And then it all started to fall apart.

Brandon Boykin returned the kickoff 100 yards for a TD and before you knew it, Kentucky was down 14-3 and playing from behind again.  Mike Hartline hit La’Rod King on a 31 yard pass on the next play, but King fumbled and Georgia recovered.  Luckily, Kentucky dodged the bulled with a missed Georgia FG, but Lady Luck was not wearing Blue tonight.  Waushaun Ealey rushed for his second TD of five early in the second quarter to put Georgia up 21-3.  Later, after a Donald Russel fumble at the Kentucky 5, Ealey scored his third TD to put Georgia up 28-10.

Kentucky had a feirce rally which culminated in a Hartline 35 yard toss to La’Rod King and for the second straight week, Kentucky found themselves down at half 28-10.  I have to say, I had bought into the myth and mystique of the Comeback Cats.  If they could pull comebacks against two top 10 teams, surely it could be done against 3-4 Georgia.

The magic was gone.

Georgia took the opening second half drive 70 yards on 7 plays, and hit paydirt on yet another Ealey score.  Kentucky fought back midway through the third quarter with a a another King TD reception which cut the lead to 34-17.  King was injured on the play however, which served as an omen for the remained of the game.  Kentucky missed on the onsides kick opportunity and Ealey scored again as Georgia hammered the final nails on the coffin with a 41-17 lead.

Kentucky fought back as is their custom and put two more scores on the board, but in the end, it was too much Ealey, and too many turnovers as Georgia hung on for a 44-31 win.

Statistically, this is a game that Kentucky dominated, outgaining the Bulldogs 423-290, but you can’t win with four tunovers and a kick returned for a TD.  As with the Ole Miss and Auburn game, Kentucky gave away 21 points.  And even Kentucky’s high powered offense can not win games in those circumstances.  Hartline had 353 yards passing and $ TD’s but he accounted for two of those turnovers with an interception and that fumble.  Raymond Sanders had over 150 yards all purpose offense, but on a night that he was needed, Kentucky’s biggest threat was strangely silent.

Cobb finished with 7 receptions with 45 carries, yet he had no rushing attempts on the game.  Also strangle was the fact that on a third and short and fourth and shot in the first half, Michael Hartline got the ball, not your best player.

These kind of starts are getting old for Wildcat fan, and with the loss goes the chance of a breakthrough 9-3 record for Kentucky.  At 4-4 Kentucky needs to go 3-1 to wrap up a decent bowl game.

For complate game stats, go here. 

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