By Cody Porter & Ethan Levine

[View the story “LIVE UPDATES: UK football vs. WKU” on Storify]

LIVE UPDATES: UK football vs. WKU

One week removed from an offensive explosion, which the team has recently lacked, UK looks to continue its success against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Storified by Kentucky Kernel News · Sat, Sep 15 2012 18:59:43

Senior wide receiver Aaron Boyd, sophomore linebacker Miles Simpson and junior defensive back Dakotah Tyler are tonight’s game captains.

Based on traffic and tailgating, expect the Cats to have its attendance higher than it has in quite a while.

RT @eCorea1418: @totalfratmove Kentucky tailgating #thebowl #TFMGameday http://pic.twitter.com/37Rr7odEJosh Jones

UK’s tailgating scene much larger than the last time Western Kentucky played at Commonwealth. A little more than an hour before kickoff.Zach Greenwell

Before we really get going, UK is in all be blue unis with blue helmets; WKU is sporting all white head to toe, white helmets, red stripesEthan Levine

I have seen more red than I expected to see so far today. WKU has fans believing an upset is very possible tonight in LexingtonEthan Levine

As @tomleachKY said, WKU not afraid to spread it out. Interesting to see if ‘Toppers test a young UK secondary that’s proven nothing in ’12Ethan Levine

WKU has little to lose. UK is expected to win, so ‘Toppers can play fast and loose. But Cats only favored by seven, and could be testedEthan Levine

UK’s Bookie Cobbins and Raymond Sanders being held out tonight for “disciplinary reasons” according to UK spokesman Tony Neely ( @tneel )Ethan Levine

Keep an eye on Western’s No. 93 Quanterus Smith. He had three of the Tops’ six sacks at Alabama.Jen Smith

Game is currently five minutes away from kickoff.

Kickoff has happened, resulting in a 20 yard return by freshman DeMarcus Sweat. 

Cats tried to pick up where they left off last week by opening with quick slant to Aaron Boyd, but it’s droppedEthan Levine

Max Smith throws his first interception of the season on a tipped pass.

WKU’s first play of the game exposes a gap in the UK secondary for a 29-yard gain.

Smith throws INT, Western throws bomb. Pass WKU couldn’t complete last year when it had a chance to beat UKVaughts’ Views

Max Smith had gone 103 passes without an interception before that pick. Sorry, UK fans. I clearly jinxed him.Kyle Tucker

Illegal formation by WKU. That negates the touchdown. Regardless, the whole drive has been way too easy for the Hilltoppers.

Appeared as if WKU would go for it on 4th down, but the special teams squad finally runs out.

Sweat with a 51-yard kick return after WKU goes up 3-0 in the 1st quarter.

Senior running back CoShik Williams limped off the field.

2nd qtr set to begin. Cats have the ball on the 37 with 1st down awaiting them.

Each team with two turnovers in opening quarter, much more happening early in this one than 3-0 score indicatesEthan Levine

Cats fail to convert on 4th and 1. WKU gets ball on their 29-yard line.

Kentucky had 53 yards of total offense in the first quarter. WKU had 91.Jen Smith

RT @univky1: @johnclayiv Kent State must be really really bad//Can already tell Western much better than Kent StateJohn Clay

Andrews untouched for 1-yard TD for Western.John Clay

This is ugly. Taking a major step backwards after progress last week.John Wilmhoff

That might have been the easiest 1-yard TD run ever for a Sun Belt runner against a SEC defenseVaughts’ Views

Far from over, but I think I hear the matches being struck by fans.

While early, are we looking at Joker’s seat? http://pic.twitter.com/A7pxYw2TCody Porter

Joker talked about DB’s sitting on routes. That’s happening.Bleed Blue Kentucky

beyond embarrassing. Total domination RT @HeathM34: @vaughtsviews another interception. This is embarrassing.Vaughts’ Views

Kentucky FB commit (and superfan of exclamation points) on this game: RT @jay_biz_5 KENTUCKY WTF ARE YOU DOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Aaron Smith

Western Kentucky…. Really it’s western freakin Kentucky!Wesley Woodyard

WKU SID already tossing out the stat that WKU is 0-20 vs BCS schools since 2001. Toppers feeling it but still earlyDan Rieffer

Senior wide receiver La’Rod King with a tough catch to set running back Jonathan George up for a four-yard touchdown. Cats trail 17-7.

Smith was 6-6 for 57 yards on that 65-yard TD drive.Jon Hale

Cats make a 48-yard field goal going into the half to make it 17-10.

HALFTIME STATS- For UK: Smith 16-24, 127 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT. George 5 carries, 22 yards. King 6 catches, 56 yards. Boyd 3 catches, 19 yardsEthan Levine

HALFTIME STATS- For UK’s defense: Dupree with 9 tackles, Neloms with 7, Williamson with 6 and an INTEthan Levine

HALFTIME STATS: For WKU: Jakes 9-10, 92 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Andrews 16 carries, 65 yards, 2 TDs. Doyle 3 catches, 22 yards.Ethan Levine

HALFTIME STATS- For WKU’s defense: Robninson 5 tackles. Dowling 3 tackles, 2 INTs. Harrington 2 tackles, 1 INT.Ethan Levine

UK defense just getting outmanned. Cats have got to WKU QB Jakes a couple of times, but if he can’t find anything he can scramble. And as I type that he finds someone for a TD.

That’s an impressive drive by WKU. Kills UK’s momentum from late in the first half.Brett Dawson

QBs from instate schools are 31-of-34 passing against UK so far this seasonMark Story

Sophomore Demarco Robinson gives UK some life with a 19-yard reception.

Jonathan George scores from 15 yards out on a screen pass to make it 24-17 WKU.

Back to the action, WKU facing a tough 3rd&8 from own 35. Cats D looking for another big stop, crowd getting loud. WKU calls timeoutEthan Levine

On 3rd&8 Jakes finds Doyle on a TE screen, comes up less than a yard short of 1st down. WKU going for it on the roadEthan Levine

Easy conversionJon Hale

Taggart is going so Harbaugh right now.Adam Lefkoe

Why go for it on 4th and 1 when you’re ahead and in your own territory? Because you are clearly better.Thomas Beisner

Another big rushing performance against UK defense. This one by a player they never recruited.Bleed Blue Kentucky

Sr. WR LaRod King now has a career-high nine catches tonight, going for 77 yards. #UKfootballBrent Ingram

UK marching again. Smith passes of 9, 3, 9 have Cats near midfield.Kyle Tucker

Smith finds George underneath, dumps it off and lets his back do the rest, flying down the field before being tackled WKU 35.Ethan Levine

After nearly being sacked for a big loss, Smith misses his target down the field. Another 3rd down for UK (3rd&10) from the WKU 35Ethan Levine

Smith sacked on 3-and-10. Slow to get up.Jon Hale

RT @dljordaneku: @johnclayiv does UK buy out those games if they lose?//only 1 more game left on contract with WKUJohn Clay

RT @BurchTennis: @johnclayiv does the next 5 min determine joker’s career at UK?//good question – not looking goodJohn Clay

Is it possible to be shocked and not shocked at the same time?Mary Jo Perino

After a run for two yards on first down, UK burns its second timeout of the half. 3:17 remaining, Cats down 7, 2nd&8 for WKU from own 33Ethan Levine

Robinson muffs the punt, dribbles it forward about five yards, picks it up and falls out of bounds. 1st&10 UK from own 23, 2:14 remainingEthan Levine

This is almost identical to the Xbox simulation. Good news: Smith hits Collins for 50 yards or so on this drive.Thomas Beisner