Kentucky football: Grades, game balls from Wildcats win over Ball State
Game Balls: Ray Davis (RB), Dane Key (WR), Kahlil Saunders (DL)
I do want to start with some honorable mentions. Wide receiver Barion Brown had 3 receptions for 39 yards and a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown. Trevin Wallace led the Wildcats with 12 total tackles, with 2 going for a loss, including 0.5 sacks. Alex Afari Jr. also impressed with 8 tackles, with 1.5 TFL.
However, Ray Davis, Dane Key, and Kahlil Saunders were all dominant from start to finish, propelling Kentucky football to a 1-0 start.
Ray Davis
The transfer from Vanderbilt didn’t waste any time in showing out for his new SEC team. Davis led the ground attack with 14 carries for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns. His longest rush went for 30 yards and he also caught 3 passes for 10 yards.
On a day where Devin Leary was good, but not great, Davis made up for it. Kentucky will gain a lot of attention for their skill in the passing game, but it’s clear that the rushing game might not be too far behind. Davis is a veteran and had the best game of any UK offensive player.
Dane Key
While Barion Brown may have had the most electrifying play for the Wildcats, Key actually outperformed his teammate in the receiving game. Last season, Key was second or third to Brown in most receiving categories but did finish with the most TDs (6). Against Ball State, Key looked like the top option.
The rising sophomore finished with 5 receptions, 96 yards, and a touchdown. His 5-yard TD reception helped give the Wildcats a 30-7 lead, and a 44-yard catch on the first play of the game was his longest of the day. Key lived up to his name, as one of the keys for the Wildcats’ big win.
Kahlil Saunders
A defensive lineman for the Wildcats, Saunders’ impact was felt by opposing quarterbacks Layne Hatcher and Kadin Semonza.
Near the end of the second half, Saunders came up with a huge sack of Hatcher for a loss of 10 yards. It helped Kentucky get the ball back on offense, which led to an extra field goal before halftime.
Then, to start the third quarter, Saunders and Trevin Wallace combined for a sack of Semonza on third down. That was crucial, as the Cardinals were in Kentucky territory only down two possessions. It forced a punt and UK capitalized and put the game out of reach with a touchdown drive.