Kentucky suffers another close loss to surging Vanderbilt Saturday night in Lexington

By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today

Vanderbilt spoiled Kentucky’s homecoming festivities Saturday night.

The Commodores didn’t show any signs of a letdown a week after the biggest win in program history. Vandy rode the momentum of a 40-35 upset of Alabama last week and notched their second straight Southeastern Conference victory with a 20-13 victory over Kentucky Saturday night at Kroger Field.

“(The win) says that the team is hungry for more and we are not going to let one game define our season,” Vandy coach Clark Lea said. “I think sometimes external narratives try to paint that picture and it has never been our reality. We know how to celebrate and we know that last week was an important marker for us, we do get that, but it is always about what comes next.

Coming off a bye week after a 20-17 upset of Mississippi two weeks ago, Kentucky was sluggish and managed just two touchdowns against Vanderbilt, which defeated Kentucky on its home turf for the second time in the past three years. The Commodores (4-2, 2-1) edged the Wildcats 24-21 two years ago in Lexington. Kentucky has lost its last six home conference games dating to last season.

“Another disappointing loss,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “And when I turn on the film, I’m going to see a lot of the same mistakes that we made in another loss earlier this year. I tried to head it off as best I could.”

Much like the Crimson Tide last week, the Wildcats had trouble stopping Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Pavia, who had 308 all-purpose yards in the upset over the Crimson Tide last week, added 53 yards rushing as the Commodores methodically worked their way to a pair of touchdowns and a field goal to hold off Kentucky.

The Wildcats (3-3, 1-3) failed to take advantage of having two weeks to prepare for Vandy after sitting through a bye week last Saturday after recording the biggest win of the Mark Stoops era two weeks ago in Oxford.

Kentucky appeared undisciplined at times on both sides of the ball and had 12 penalties for 106 yards, including eight for 70 in the first half that prevented the offense from getting into a consistent rhythm.

“You don’t win games by being all psyched up or just being irrational,” Stoops said. “It comes down to disciplined execution. I tried like (heck) to beat that into our heads and to play winning football in all areas. When you continuously hurt yourself with penalties, turnovers, missed assignments, not making plays, I’m obviously not getting through to them.

“You know, I understand what winning football looks like and I know what it doesn’t look like. We certainly didn’t do that and I’m very disappointed in myself and our staff for not getting this team ready. And I have to do a better job. I can promise you it wasn’t for lack of effort. I need to challenge them some more and I need to call upon some leaders on the team and hopefully, you know get some help in some different areas and have some guys step up. Because we can play winning football.”

Two bad snaps on special teams by Kentucky resulted in a missed 22-yard field goal attempt and an extra-point try in the second half. Kentucky also had two fumbles and lost one of those miscues.

Brock Vandagriff threw for 158 yards and a touchdown to pace the Wildcats’ offense as Kentucky outgained the Commodores 322-288.

More Pitino

Former Kentucky men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino, a guest at Big Blue Madness Friday night in support of Mark Pope, also was in attendance Saturday night in support of Stoops. Pitino also visited with former women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell, who lives in the home where Pitino resided during his eight seasons as coach of the Wildcats.

Scary moment

Vanderbilt defensive end Miles Capers was carted off the field on a stretcher in the second quarter after suffering an unspecified injury. He was taken off the field with 10:19 remaining in the second quarter.

He later returned to the sidelines in street clothes to support the rest of his teammates in the second half.

Gametracker : Kentucky at Florida, Saturday, 7:45 p.m. TV/Radio: SECN, UK Radio Network.

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