Holt, Burton, and Cook out vs Indiana
Holt, Burton, and Cook out vs Indiana
These are the top 3 WR's for UK....
Cats are resilient, if not healthy
TRAIT NOT PRESENT IN LAST YEAR'S TEAM
By Chip Cosby
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
There was plenty not to like about Kentucky's tougher-than-expected 41-29 win over Division I-AA Idaho State Saturday.
The Wildcat defense had very little success in stopping the Bengals, missing 29 tackles and allowing 448 yards of offense.
The UK special teams provided plenty of theatrics, including a game-winning 99-yard kickoff return by sophomore Rafael Little. But there were also special teams breakdowns, like the blocked Tim Masthay punt that led to Idaho State's go-ahead touchdown.
Masthay also shanked two kickoffs out of bounds, and kicker Taylor Begley missed a 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
The worst element of the night, without question, was the number of UK injuries. The Cats lost several regulars for what will be an extended period of time.
But on a night when nothing really seemed to go their way, the Wildcats still managed to take care of the bottom line and get a win, something that might not have happened under the same circumstances last fall.
"I think that the way that game was going, I'm not sure a year ago we'd have been able to win the darn thing, that's the good news," UK Coach Rich Brooks said. "We had a bunch of players who bowed their necks and decided they weren't going to let it happen."
When Idaho State scored off the blocked punt to take a 29-28 lead with 5:06 remaining, the UK players said the sidelines remained calm despite the nervous tremor felt throughout Commonwealth Stadium.
"The first thing I said was, 'We've still got to win this game, and we're going to win this game," junior linebacker Wesley Woodyard said.
Little then answered with his kickoff return touchdown, and UK grabbed two late interceptions and added a short Arliss Beach touchdown run to seal the deal.
"We wouldn't have been able to overcome that last year," senior safety Muhammad Abdullah said.
"We would have put our heads down as soon as that punt got blocked," Beach added.
So while it may not have been an artistic beauty, it still goes down as a victory. And as tight end Jacob Tamme noted, "I'd rather have an ugly win than a pretty loss any day of the week."
Kentucky's newfound resiliency will get a supreme test this weekend at Indiana (1-1), as injuries will once again have the Wildcats in a position they've seemingly been in since the Brooks era began: dangerously thin.
Out for sure are receivers Tommy Cook (dislocated kneecap), Keenan Burton (broken foot) and safety Marcus McClinton (season-ending knee injury). Defensive end B. Jay Parsons and receiver Glenn Holt are doubtful to questionable with sprained ankles, and backup defensive end Travis Day suffered a broken hand and is doubtful for this week. Another defensive tackle, Myron Pryor, continues to struggle with cramping, and freshman corner David Jones and freshman offensive lineman Sefo Blaylock have been slowed by hip flexors.
UK was already missing defensive tackles Lamar Mills (season-ending knee injury) and Ricky Abren (wrist), running back Tony Dixon (season-ending leg injury) and offensive lineman Micah Jones (knee).
"We've just hit a very unusual stretch of bad luck," Brooks said. "Guys are playing hard and doing good things, and then -- bam -- something bad happens."
With perhaps three of UK's top five receivers on the shelf, Brooks said freshman DeMoreo Ford and sophomore John Logan will move up the depth chart. Senior running back Draak Davis could also help out.
One player who won't be stepping into the receiver rotation is sophomore Dicky Lyons Jr., who has been battling hamstring problems and will most likely redshirt.Saturday
