By Joshua Huff

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The Kentucky Wildcats handily defeated the inept Charlotte 49ers 58-10 on Saturday before a sparse crowd of brave souls who weathered the damp November chill within the confines of Commonwealth Stadium.

Highlights

1. Kentucky amasses 415 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
2. Stanley “Boom” Williams and Jojo Kemp become the first duo since Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke to rush for over 100 yards in a game.
3. Drew Barker’s first start ends in a 16-for-29 for 129 yard performance.

It was a meeting that shouldn’t have mattered to the Cats, but as their season-crippling slump reached five games, the contest became the football equivalent of life and death. As fate would have it, Kentucky’s quest for a bowl game clashed against a Charlotte team mired in an eight-game losing spell.

With bowl eligibility on the line, Kentucky performed admirably against its lesser foe. In the win, the mighty Cats of the Southeastern Conference issued a reminder to the first-year Football Bowl Series (FBS) 49ers that relevancy is earned, not given — a notion that the 5-6 Cats embrace after their program-altering two SEC wins this season.

As the Cats braced for a 49ers team that started the year a stellar 2-0, Kentucky, on Monday, introduced a new wrinkle into its gameplan: tabbing Drew Barker as its new gunslinger. A once heralded four-star recruit from Burlington, Ky., Barker replaced the embattled Patrick Towles in the hopes of cooling coach Mark Stoops’ hot seat. As the baby-faced Barker proved, his game is cool to the touch.

He finished the contest a scorching 16-for-29 for 129 yards despite the wet, blustery conditions.

Barker’s mastery of Kentucky’s complex offense as a redshirt freshman ushers in hope to a fanbase that has, throughout the years, witnessed some of the worst play in the SEC. But alas, as efficient as the lad was, the pieces around him pale in comparison to teams in which wins against matter: the SEC. As a result, Saturday’s win proved little except that Kentucky can easily play the role of bully when no conference teams are around.

With that being said, Kentucky’s band of running backs shined brilliantly against a Charlotte defense that allows 405 total yards a game. Both Stanley “Boom” Williams and Jojo Kemp rushed for more than 100 yards, and Sihiem King added 91 yards. The running game contributed six touchdowns to the onslaught. It was a magnificent performance for fans who enjoy watching players run through a defense so bad it makes Jenna Jameson look like a nun.

So, 11 games down and one to go, and just one win to become bowl eligible; how fitting is it that for the second-consecutive year the opponent standing in the way is none other than the Louisville Cardinals.

The win against Charlotte should fill Kentucky’s ego enough to carry over to next Saturday’s game. As dominant as Kentucky’s defense was in holding the 49ers to 87 passing yards, its confidence level should be at an all-time high.

Kentucky better just hope that Louisville quarterback Kyle Bolin isn’t feeling too cheeky, because his return to Lexington may not be too pleasant should he play and beat the Cats again.