Photo: Regina Rickert
Kentucky is now 5-1 on the season and just one win away from becoming bowl eligible. After a slow start Kentucky blew out Louisiana Monroe 48-14.
*The Good*
*Kentucky has a three-game winning streak for the first time since the 2010 season. UK is 5-1 overall for the first time since 2007. Mark Stoops is only the third coach in the modern era of UK football (1945-present) to start a season 5-1 or better in his first two years on the job.
*Freshman RB Stanley “Boom” Williams 75-yard kickoff return to open the game was the longest kickoff return for UK since 2009. Williams rushed a career-best seven times for a career-high 104 yards, including a 58-yard TD rush in the third quarter. Williams’ 100-yard rushing game marked the first of his career and the second consecutive game UK had a 100-yard rusher.
*Senior WR Javess Blue finished with three catches for 109 yards, his second career 100-yard receiving game. Blue took a pass from Towles 83 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and added an unbelievable 21-yard TD grab in the third quarter. Blue’s 83-yard catch was the longest play of the year for UK.
*Junior LB Josh Forrest came through once again. Forrest intercepted a pass and returned it 29 yards for a go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter. Forrest finished the game with five tackles and a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
*Freshman DT Matt Elam continues to improve. Elam finished the game with a career high three tackles. Elam’s pass break-up in the second quarter led to Forrest’s interception return for a touchdown.
*Sophomore safety Marcus McWilson intercepted his second pass of 2014 and returned it 36 yards for his first career touchdown. McWilson finished the game with 1.5 tackles.
*Junior DT C.J. Johnson had his first career two-sack game.
*Kentucky’s defense sacked Louisiana Monroe’s quarterbacks six times on the day. UK’s six sacks is a season-best and marked the most since UK had six sacks in a win over Miami (Ohio) in 2013.
*The Bad*
Kentucky getting behind 14-3 in the first quarter. Kentucky came out of the gate flat and overlooking ULM. Kentucky is a team that needs to get off to a fast start, especially in SEC play.
*The Ugly*
For some reason the students continue to be invisible during games. The student section was almost completely empty. They showed up during the South Carolina game, but that is the only game the section has been full all season. Students only have to pay $5 with a student id to get in the game, and the section UK has reserved are good seats. I don’t understand why they didn’t show up and support the team. If this was basketball they would be lining up for a week to get tickets and football should be no different. Mark Stoops has this team playing winning football and they need the support of the students.
