The Kentucky Wildcats entered Saturday looking for their first win since September 30th, when they beat Ole Miss in Oxford. That was 47 days and over one month without a win, including four straight losses and two bye weeks—not the best month and a half.
Thankfully, Kentucky got back in the win column today against Murray State, winning 48-6. It was incredibly sloppy at various times and marred by penalties in a game that you really can’t take too much away from.
That said, the Cats are back in the win column, keeping their bowl-eligibility hopes alive.
Here’s what to know from Kentucky’s fourth win of the season.
Josaih Hayes returns
Josaih Hayes returned to the field today after an injury in the offseason that was thought to be a season-ending injury. Hayes has been a multi-year starter for Kentucky and a vital part of the defensive line. Hayes should still be good for a redshirt season, but having him in the final two games vs. Texas and Louisville will be helpful, especially if Deone Walker remains out after not suiting up in this one.
Penalties, penalties, penalties
In a game against a 1-9 Murray State team, Kentucky still committed double-digit penalties (nine were accepted), many of them being the same issues we’ve seen all season long. From undisciplined play, to boneheaded decisions, this is week 12 of the college football season and Kentucky and Mark Stoops have yet to clean up the laundry on the field.
The Racers added to it with over 20 of their own (15 were accepted). It was as much of a flag fest as you’ll see at any level of football. It really was a sight to behold.
Cutter Boley gets PT
LCA product Cutter Boley got his first significant playing time of the season. Boley threw his first career touchdown pass to Anthony Brown-Stephens early in the 4th quarter and then hit ABS for another touchdown pass with 3:34 left in the game.
Boley finished with 130 passing yards on 10/14, throwing with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Getting Boley some prominent playing time is crucial for developing a quarterback in the system, something that Kentucky has struggled to do throughout the Stoops tenure.
If Vandagriff struggles next week vs. Texas, you have to wonder if Stoops could go to Boley in relief instead of Gavin Wimsatt, who clearly doesn’t need to play any more outside of Wildcat QB packages.
Jamarion Wilcox goes off again
Jamarion Wilcox, again, continues to break off big play after big play for the Wildcats out of the backfield. Wilcox rushed for 126 yards on just 13 carries and one rushing touchdown.
Bush Hamdan said earlier in Kentucky’s four-game losing streak that he felt that they went to Wilcox way too late out of the backfield, opting for a veteran DSK. The way Wilcox has been toting the rock over the last three games, he’s making a serious push for the starting job next season.
Well, at least if Kentucky can hopefully keep him out of the transfer portal this offseason.
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