Big Blue Nation, rejoice! The Kentucky Wildcats overcame a fourteen point fourth quarter deficit to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks 45-38. Linebacker Alvin “Bud” Dupree scored the go-ahead touchdown on an interception return on a bass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Safety Ashley Lowery sealed the game with an interception in the final minute.
Running back Jojo Kemp was the hero of the game, especially in the fourth quarter. Kemp finished the game with 131 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. One thing was for sure, Jojo gave Kentucky all the mojo he possibly could in the fourth quarter.
The stretch of the game, after South Carolina went up 38-24, where Jojo Kemp lined up in the Wildcat formation and ran the same jet sweep play 10 consecutive times. Kemp recorded 105 yards and two touchdowns on those 10 plays, including a huge 43 yard run on the ninth play, and the game tying touchdown on the tenth. Mark Stoops ran that same Wildcat formation play two more times on Kentucky’s final drive, where Jojo finished the game off with a first down.
Oct 4, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Braylon Heard (5) celebrates with quarterback Patrick Towles (14) during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
How did our quarterback do?:
Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles had an impressive stat-line in last nights victory, completing 20 of 29 pass attempts for 208 yards and a 48 yard trick-play touchdown pass to Ryan Timmons.
Wondering what I meant by trick-play? Kentucky was lined up in Wildcat formation, surprise surprise, with Towles lined up wide. Jojo Kemp took the snap and tossed it to Javess Blue on a jet fly, who then tossed it back to Towles on a reverse, who launched a pass to a wide open Ryan Timmons for a 48 yard touchdown that gave Kentucky a 24-17 lead. It was one of the more beautifully designed plays I’ve ever seen. Kentucky scored all five of their offensive touchdowns from that Wildcat formation.
Oct 4, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated South Carolina 45-38. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Props to the Gamecocks:
South Carolina played a very good game today, and looked like they had the victory in the bag in the fourth quarter. The Gamecocks hammered Kentucky’s defense, especially on the ground, putting up 500 yards of total offense including 282 rushing yards in the game. Mike Davis had his 10th career 100 yard rushing game before they even reached halftime; he finished with 183 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Quarterback Dylan Thompson was not as spectacular, throwing three interceptions at the worst possible times he could. One before halftime, when they were on the verge of extending a 17-14 lead, the other two really ended the game for the Gamecocks. Kentucky’s AJ Stamps caught the other interception, along with Dupree and Lowery. South Carolina now fall to 3-3 (2-3 SEC) on the season, really destroying their hopes of an SEC East crown.
Jan 11, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans small forward Darius Miller (2) and power forward Anthony Davis (23) box out Dallas Mavericks power forward Brandan Wright (34) during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Pelicans 110-107. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Former ‘Cats and Cards take the stage:
The NBA preseason officially began yesterday with the New Orleans Pelicans taking on the Miami Heat in the Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Two former Kentucky players and a rookie from Louisville suited up for New Orleans tonight, so of course we’re gonna talk about it.
That one former Wildcat who plays for the Pelicans, that everybody knows about, is Anthony Davis. It is just preseason, however. Davis played just 11 minutes, put up five points and four rebounds.
Davis’ former Kentucky teammate, Darius Miller, started the game at small forward in place of the injured Tyreke Evans. Miller has made only nine starts in his first two seasons; most people predicted that sharp-shooter Ryan Anderson was going to start at the three spot while Evans recovers. However, maybe Monty Williams really wants to give Miller his shot at that starting role. Miller scored eight points in 32 minutes of playing time.
Normally we don’t discuss good things about Louisville players here at WBN, for obvious reasons, but BBN does respect Russ Smith a lot. For those who don’t know, Russ Smith is New Orleans’ second round pick in this year’s draft. Smith was also a First Team All-American at shooting guard in his senior season at Louisville. Russ scored 12 points in 13 minutes last night.
Other leading scorers for New Orleans included Jimmer Freddette with 17 points, Luke Babbitt with 15 points, Austin Rivers and Ryan Anderson has 12 points apiece. New Orleans won the game 98-86.