CBS had predicted that Youngstown State could come into Kroger Field and upset Kentucky. The Cats made sure the Penguins didn't believe that for long. Kenny Minchey opened the game 9 of 12 for 121 yards as the Cats cruised to a 21-0 lead. It only got better from there.
Things got started behind a CJ Baxter barrage. The transfer from Texas scored the first two touchdowns of the Will Stein era, with a 15-yard run and a 5-yard run within the first 10 minutes of the game.
A muffed punt by the Penguins gave Kentucky the ball back deep in Youngstown State territory. The Cats got inside the 5 but stalled out. Baxter was stuffed for a loss, but Jason Patterson found a seam to get it to the 2 before Baxter was again stuffed, setting up the first will he go for it decision under Stein.
He went for it, and Kenny Minchey found Willie Rodriguez for the first of many touchdowns between the two.
The Cats dominated the first half until the final drive. Youngstown State started finding success through the air, particularly targeting freshman Isaiah McMillian on the boundary. The Penguins went 75 yards in just 1:31 to make it 28-7.
With just 17 seconds on the clock, Will Stein had Kenny Minchey take a knee to end the first half.
Kentucky outgained Youngstown State 234 to 154 in the first half, with the bulk of those yards coming on that final drive. The Penguins also deferred, so they had a chance to cut the lead in half and seemingly had found some momentum.
Kentucky responds, but Youngstown State refused to go away
That's when Will Stein started to really shine. The head coach pushed all the right buttons at halftime, and the Cats came out and snuffed out that momentum on the opening drive. A holding penalty backed the Penguins up. Then Jordan Castell read an option pitch perfectly, forcing an 8-yard loss and a punt.
It was Kenny Minchey's turn in the spotlight. The first-year starting quarterback found Prince Jean for his first career collegiate touchdown to push the lead back to 28 as the Cats covered 75 yards in 3:25.
But Youngstown State would bounce right back, again finding success through the air. They would also go 75 yards, taking 4 minutes off the clock and making it 35-13, as the extra point was missed.
Jay Bateman has some things to clean up, especially along the dline who really struggled to get pressure on Brungard all day long. The Youngstown State QB would finish 23 of 35 for 243 yards and a touchdown through the air, adding 28 more on the ground.
Minchey would finish the day with a mostly clean pocket; the Penguins wouldn't register a sack. He would also end up finding completions to 8 different players. He was 18 of 27 for 301 yards and 4 touchdowns.
All in all, it was a good debut for nearly everyone in blue, but Kenny Minchey and Will Stein put the SEC on notice that Kentucky is for real in a 45-13 win.
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