The law firm of Smith, Sanders, and Boyd rolled over the hapless Kent State defense 47-14 as Kentucky won it’s 3rd consecutive game in Commonwealth Stadium.
Maxwell Smith was a blistering 30-39 for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns and made a living of hitting senior wide receiver Aaron Boyd.
Boyd had a career high 11 catches for 100 yards and his first career touchdown.
Raymond Sanders led the Wildcats on the ground with 13 rushes for 126 yards which included 68 yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter.
Maxwell Smith kept every one awake in the passing game, hitting 10 different teammates.
Five different Wildcats scored touchdowns which includes La’Rod King, Jonathan George, and freshman DeMarcus Sweat. Those three joined the aforementioned Boyd and Sanders in the scoring column.
Kentucky gained a total of 539 yards, but also gave up 409 to Kent State.
Kentucky’s offense is by far the strength of this team and the defense needs to catch up if the Wildcats are to have a shot of beating anyone in the SEC.
Postgame Notes
Kent State vs. Kentucky
Sept. 8, 2012 * Commonwealth Stadium; Lexington, Ky.
FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 47, Kent State 14
Team Records and Series Notes
- With the win, Kentucky owns a 1-1 record, while Kent State drops to 1-1 in 2012.
- Kentucky leads the series 7-0, with all games played in Lexington.
- UK owns a 27-7-1 all-time record against teams from the Mid-American Conference.
- Kentucky returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 15, when the Wildcats play host to Western Kentucky University. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium.
Team Notes
- UK now owns a 135-111-4 all-time record in its 40 seasons at Commonwealth Stadium.
- UK won its third consecutive home game.
- Kentucky has a record of 93-23-6 in home openers. The Wildcats have won seven-consecutive home openers.
- The Wildcats recorded their first safety since getting one vs. Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 24, 2009.
- Under Coach Joker Phillips, UK is 9-1 when in games which the Wildcats win the turnover margin.
- UK had its first 100-yard receiver and its first 100-yard rusher for the first time since CoShik Williams (111 rushing), La’Rod King (102 receiving), Matt Roark (116 receiving) vs. Ole Miss on Nov. 5, 2011.
- UK had its first 40-point output since totaling 49 points vs. Charleston Southern on Nov. 6, 2010.
- UK threw for 300+ yards for the first time since a 353-yard game vs. Georgia on Oct. 23, 2010.
- The 354 yards passing marked UK’s most since a 430-yard passing output vs. Tennessee in 2007.
- With 539 total yards of offense, UK had its best offensive game since recording 580 total yards of offense vs. Vanderbilt on Nov. 13, 2010.
- After a total of 11 players caught passes in the season lidlifter at No. 25 Louisville, 10 Wildcats hauled in catches in the win over Kent State.
- UK converted two of three opportunities in the red zone and is now 4-for-7 in 2012 in the red zone.
- UK finished with a 24:09-9:42 advantage in time of possession, running 69 total plays while KSU finished with 27. UK averaged 7.8 yards per play.
Individual Notes
- Sophomore QB Maxwell Smith turned in a career-best game, completing 30-of-39 passes for 354 yards.
- He set a new career-high with 354 yards and became UK’s first 300-yard passer since Mike Hartline’s 353 yards passing vs. Georgia on Oct. 23, 2010.
- Smith’s four touchdowns also set a new career mark, the most since Hartline’s four TDs at UGA on Oct. 23, 2010.
- Smith’s 354 yards passing was the most for a UK quarterback since Hartline’s 430 yards vs. Tennessee in 2007.
- Sophomore TB Raymond Sanders turned in a career outing, rushing for a career-high 115 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown.
- Sanders’ previous career high was a 77-yard game vs. Georgia in 2010.
- He is the first UK player to rush for 100 or more yards since Matt Roark vs. Tennessee on Nov. 26, 2011.
- Making his first start since his freshman campaign, Boyd set new career highs in catches (11) and yards (100).
- He is the first UK player with 10 or more catches since Matt Roark had 13 grabs vs. Mississippi State on Oct. 29, 2011.
- George finished with five rushes for 53 yards, the second-best game of his career, just shy of a 66 yard game on 10 rushes in a win over Jacksonville State in 2011.
- McIntosh now has made 7-of-12 career attempts from 40-49 yards.
- He has now made 24-of-32 field goal attempts in his four-year career, owning 128 points.
- Senior WR Aaron Boyd’s 14-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter marked his first career touchdown reception.
- Junior TB Jonathan George tallied his third career rushing touchdown with a 38-yard scamper in the third quarter, a career-long rush.
- Has 1,348 receiving yards in his career, moving past Rafael Little (2004-07) and James Whalen (1997-99) for 13th-place on the UK career listing.
- Has 15 receiving TDs in his career, tying Quentin McCord (15) for sixth place on the UK career list.
- Neloms finished with seven tackles and one tackle for a loss.
- Senior PK Craig McIntosh drilled a 47-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
- Dupree finished with six tackles, including a sack and two tackles for a loss.
- Freshman WR DeMarcus Sweat’s first career reception was a 56-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter.
- Senior WR Gene McCaskill recorded his second career touchdown grab, on an 18-yard reception from Smith in the third quarter.
- Senior WR La’Rod King caught five passes for 53 yards and one touchdown.
- Sr. DB Martavius Neloms forced a fumble for the second consecutive week.
- Freshman punter Landon Foster booted it three times for 152 yards and a 50.7 yard average. In his debut last week, Foster had two punts for 88 yards (44 yard average).
- Linebacker Alvin “Bud” Dupree has made at least one big play (QB sack, tackle for loss, fumble caused, fumble recovery or pass breakup) in six consecutive games.
