When head coach Mark Stoops was done talking after Wednesday’s practice, the majority of the media was in shock simply based on how blatantly displeased Stoops was when it came to talking about his defense.

The calling-out by Coach Stoops could have backfired, but rather to the delight of the Big Blue Nation, it did not and the defense stepped up for the first time all season holding South Carolina to just 268 yards of total offense in UKs 17-10 win Saturday night.

After taking a lot of heat early on in the season along with Stoops, Defensive Coordinator D.J. Eliot was very pleased to see his bunch respond, especially in the Cats’ first home conference game.

“I’m very proud of the players effort. It was all them, they did it, they played hard. And credit to the offense they ran the ball kept us off the field, and it just goes hand in hand,” Eliot said. “A true team effort and those guys are going to be really proud of themselves.”

It became clear early on that the energy inside the stadium was different from the first three weeks of the season. That same energy throughout the stands, was clearly down there on the field with the UK defense who continuously responded to the Gamecocks’ challenge right from kickoff.

The Cats were able to hold USC scoreless in the first quarter which marked the defenses second consecutive shutout quarter dating back to the fourth quarter last week against New Mexico State.

With both defenses striving, UK was able to grab a 3-0 lead in the second on an Austin MacGinnis field goal. Later that same quarter, the Cats’ defense allowed its only touchdown after the Gamecocks were able to score following a 10-play 80-yard drive which gave them a 7-3 lead, a lead in which they would take into the half.   

UK would reclaim the lead shortly into the second half, when Stanley ‘Boom’ Williams ran one in from 43 yards out on the half’s opening drive.

The biggest play of the game was a play that the Cats really haven’t made all season and that was a third down stop deep in their own territory.

Alvonte Bell and Courtney Love stepped up on a third and short to stuff Gamecocks QB Brandon McIlwain and forced a field goal which USC would convert and tie the game at 10.

The very next drive, we saw Benny Snell Jr. completely take over the game on the ground. The freshman, who broke out last week, dominated and at one point on the drive carried the ball on eight straight plays. Snell would cap off the drive with a one-yard TD run, and then put the game away for good by pounding and wearing down the Gamecocks defense.

The way UK was able to finish the game off on the ground, which they are not accustomed to doing, showed the all around effort that the team put into the game.

“It was a really good team victory. I’m proud of those guys. It’s really important for us to play well this weekend when we honor the four gentlemen that we did on Thursday. And to have the Hall of Fame weekend, I have great respect for all of those people,” Stoops said. “That’s the way this football team needs to play, with that passion and energy that every fan expects, that we expect and that we will do.”