For 28 minutes, Kentucky’s matchup against Eastern Michigan was exactly the "get right" game the program and its fans desperately needed. The offense, led by sophomore quarterback Cutter Boley in his first career start, was explosive and efficient. The defense was opportunistic. For the first time all season, it was simply fun to watch Kentucky score points and dominate an opponent.
But as we discussed all week, it's hard to take much away from a game like this unless something goes wrong. And in the final 1:55 of the first half, things went very, very wrong, again.
Cutter Boley delivers in his debut
First, the good news. The offense looked completely rejuvenated with Boley at the helm. He finished the half a solid 7-of-12 for 123 yards and two touchdowns, showing the poise and arm talent that has had fans excited for two years. His touchdown passes to tight ends Willie Rodriguez and Josh Kattus were sharp, and he looked comfortable running the offense. Those were the first two touchdown passes of the year for Kentucky.
The running game was equally dominant. Seth McGowan was a force, rushing for 65 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries. The Wildcats put up 28 points, finally eclipsing the 25-point mark that had eluded them all season. On that side of the ball, it was a near-perfect half.
A familiar and frustrating end-of-half collapse
With 1:55 left in the second quarter, Kentucky scored to go up 28-6. It was a commanding lead that should have been carried into the locker room. Instead, what followed was a masterclass in how to let a lesser team back into a game.
- First, the defense gave up a 75-yard touchdown drive that took just 19 seconds, capped by a busted coverage that resulted in a 64-yard touchdown pass. The score was suddenly 28-13.
- Next, with a chance to redeem themselves and run out the clock, the Kentucky offense went three-and-out, giving the ball right back to Eastern Michigan with 50 seconds left.
- Finally, the defense broke again, allowing EMU to drive 34 yards in just a few plays to set up a stunning 50-yard field goal as time expired.
A dominant 28-6 lead evaporated into a much less comfortable 28-16 halftime score. While the offensive performance from the new quarterback is a massive positive, the defensive lapses and poor two-minute offense just before the break are the exact kinds of recurring problems that have plagued this team for years, leaving a sour taste on an otherwise explosive first half.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. Micah 7:7. #UpTheAlbion