SEC Football:What We Saw, What We’ll See:Week 8-9
By James Bowers
WHAT WE SAW: KENTUCKY FINALLY WON A CLOSE ONE
If there is a theme for the Mark Stoops era in University of Kentucky football history, it’s coming up short. The 2014 season was particularly agonizing for the Wildcats; while they beat Steve Spurrier‘s Gamecocks, an overtime loss to Florida in a game they should have won, and the collapse of a comeback effort against Missouri saw UK again stay home during bowl season. While 2015 saw the ‘Cats score an unprecedented second straight victory over South Carolina and upset a top 25 Missouri team, even closer losses to Florida, Auburn, and Vanderbilt soured the mood in Lexington, and heated the seat for Stoops. Some wonder if Kentucky football will ever step out of the shadow of the basketball dynasty and see Commonwealth Stadium wrapped with the type of ticket camp out lines that commonly surround Rupp Arena during the winter.
A last second win over Mississippi State doesn’t immediately answer that question. However, it certainly doesn’t hurt.
SHOOTOUT IN LEXINGTON
The Wildcats hosted Dan Mullen‘s Bulldogs Saturday night, and found themselves trailing 14-6 at the half. However, UK’s first half series saw a 44 yard touchdown strike from Wildcat QB Stephen Johnson to Jeff Badet cut into the MSU lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.
A subsequent Westin Graves field goal extended the Miss St. lead to 17-12. The ensuing UK possession was capped with another long score; a 34 yard TD run by Benjamin Snell,Jr. Following a 2 pt. conversion the Wildcats had a 20-17 lead, their first all game.
What followed was a shootout between the two squads. MSU Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald took it to the end zone from 38 yards away to give his group a 24-20 advantage, only for a second 40+ yard TD pass from Johnson to Bedet put UK back in front, 27-24. Quarter number 4 began with Kentucky S Marcus McWilson with a 45 yard pick six, and make it a ten point ball game in favor of the Wildcats. However, MSU’s Cory Thomas would outdo McWilson with a 81 yard fumble return to the opposing end zone. The game was now a 34-31 affair. Kentucky got the football back and a 61 yard drive ended with an Austin McGinnis field goal. UK had a 37-31 lead with less than 7 minutes left to play.
CATS,DOGS TRADE RALLIES
The next MSU drive looked like the stuff of legend. Beginning at their own 23, Nick Fitzgerald salvaged plays with his running ability multiple times. Even though Fitz threw a couple incomplete passes his squad did not lose momentum and moved the ball in their wake. Following a crucial pass interference penalty that put the ‘Dogs in the red zone, Fitz threw a 7 yard strike to trusty WR Fred Ross, and MSU finally had the lead back, 38-37. Fitzgerald was ready for hero status.
The next series would haunt MSU.
With 1:02 remaining on the clock, the Wildcats needed to answer fast to avoid slipping to a losing record. Stephen Johnson responded with 3 passes to Jeff Bedet, the last of which landed UK on the Bulldog 33 with 3 seconds left. Austin MacGinnis connected on a 51 yard FG. With his victorious kick; it was he, not Fitzgerald, that was the game’s hero. A 40-38 Kentucky victory was the Wildcats first over the Bulldogs since 2008; their first at home since ’05. n a tenure that has seen Stoops come up on the losing end of these showdowns, the result was cathartic for Mark Stoops. Kentucky is now 4-3. Meanwhile, MSU slips to 2-5 as the painful adjustment to life without Dak Prescott continues.
WHAT WE’LL SEE: KENTUCKY TRAVELS TO MISSOURI, MSU HOSTS FCS SAMFORD
October 29 gives the Wildcats an opportunity for a second straight win as they face Missouri in Columbia. Missouri’s program is in a rough patch, with a 2-5 mark that includes no conference wins, and a loss to mid-major Middle Tennessee State among their woes. A second straight Wildcat win over MU looks easy to attain as the Tiger program weathers a tough year.
Mississippi State will regroup as the Samford Bulldogs of the FCS Southern Conference visit Davis Wade Saturday. A season marred with agonizing defeats has proven just how much former QB Dak Prescott, currently with the Dallas Cowboys, meant to the program, even though his successor Nick Fitzgerald has proven a capable leader. MSU returns to conference play on November 5, when Texas A&M comes to town.
