Field Level Media
Nov 16, 2019
Using a potent rushing attack, Kentucky went to Nashville and blasted Vanderbilt, 38-14, at Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats (5-5, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) mauled Vandy (2-8, 1-6) on the ground from start to finish, running over, around and through the Commodores for a season-high 401 yards.
Quarterback Lynn Bowden ran for 110 yards and threw for 104, with a touchdown each way. Running backs Chris Rodriguez and Kavosiey Smoke added 129 and 95 yards, respectively.
The Wildcats out-gained Vandy, 528-198 and held VU to 4.0 yards per snap.
UK scored on five consecutive drives, each going at least 72 yards.
The 'Cats took a 31-14 lead after Bowden took an option keeper two yards around the right side with 11:54 left in the third quarter.
Kentucky safety Yusuf Corker intercepted Vandy quarterback Riley Neal at the Wildcats' 28, setting up Rodriguez's 27-yard third-quarter TD scamper to follow.
After center Sean McMoore's bad snap pinned Vandy in the shadow of its goal line on its first possession, the Wildcats got the ball at the VU 44 after a punt. Kicker Chance Poore hit a 32-yard field goal for the game's first points just 5:12 in.
Vandy running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn accounted for 41 yards on the ensuing possession, plowing over around right end from five yards out to give the Commodores a 7-3 lead after kicker Ryley Guay's point-after.
On the 'Cats next possession, Vandy outside linebacker Andre Mintze popped the ball loose from Rose. Cornerback Allan George picked it up on the bounce and raced 67 yards for a score.
It was all Kentucky from there as UK's offensive line soon took the game over.
Smoke capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard scoring run in traffic, getting the Wildcats within four with 14:14 left in the second quarter.
Kentucky scored on a nine-play, 82-yard drive -- all that yardage coming on the ground -- when Rodriguez dashed in from 22 yards out.
Kentucky drove to the red zone on its next drive when Bowden under threw a receiver, but safety Brendon Harris tipped it right to wide receiver Josh Ali for a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the half, making for a 10-point lead.
--Field Level Media