No. 9 Kentucky shuts out Youngstown State 31-0 to remain undefeated

Kentucky+Wildcats+wide+receiver+Dane+Key+%286%29+celebrates+with+tight+end+Josh+Kattus+%2884%29+during+the+No.+9+Kentucky+vs.+Youngstown+State+football+game+on+Saturday%2C+Sept.+17%2C+2022%2C+at+Kroger+Field+in+Lexington%2C+Kentucky.+UK+won+31-0.+Photo+by+Jack+Weaver+%7C+Staff

Jack Weaver

Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Dane Key (6) celebrates with tight end Josh Kattus (84) during the No. 9 Kentucky vs. Youngstown State football game on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. UK won 31-0. Photo by Jack Weaver | Staff

Cole Parke, Sports Editor

No. 9 Kentucky (3-0) defeated Youngstown State (2-1) 31-0 at Kroger Field on Saturday, remaining undefeated in the 2022 season.

The win marked the first shutout victory under head coach Mark Stoops, who took over the program in 2013, and the first shutout for Kentucky since 2009.

Keeping with the theme of re-writing records, the win also marked the first time Kentucky has won a game as an AP top 10 team since 1977, with the No. 9 ranking being the highest ever achieved under Stoops.

While significant for the history made, the win was less than stellar considering the level of the opponent and the offensive performance.

“It was one of those games where we did some really good things in phases and obviously some things that continue to creep up and get a little bit aggravating and things to work on,” Stoops said. “No panic button here, we truly believe [these things] will get fixed, we’ve been through this before as recent as last year going through some ups and downs in the continuity.”

Youngstown State, Kentucky’s only FCS opponent this season, finished its previous season 3-7 and, while Kentucky covered the projected spread of 29, refused to allow the offense to play hero, instead forcing the defense and special teams to really clinch the victory for the Cats.

While Kentucky finished the game with 103 rushing yards, its second highest total of the season, that figure was just 73 rushing yards at halftime and 17 in the first quarter.

The run game is something Kentucky has struggled with all season long with the absence of starter Chris Rodriguez Jr. still suspended, with Kavosiey Smoke’s third quarter touchdown being the first scored by a running back all season.

“It is frustrating to give up negative yardage plays consistently,” Stoops said. “We’ve got to get that fixed and run the ball downhill.”

Kentucky’s passing attack, on the other hand, was more impressive with 377 yards and two touchdowns from receptions, including a third from true freshman Dane Key, tying the all-time UK record for most receiving touchdowns by a freshman just three games into the season. 

While proud, the young star was more worried about the offensive performance as a whole as opposed to his own personal accolades.

“It’s a great feeling, but we didn’t play the way we wanted to today,” Key said after the game. “There’s lots to come back on and work on. We really started off slow today, we just need to come out with the intensity we come out with in practice and come ready to play from the first whistle until the last whistle.”

That said, the passing attack was not without its flaws as quarterback Will Levis also amassed two interceptions against the Penguins, a figure traditionally unexpected for first round draft picks against FCS opponents.

“We hold ourselves to high expectations,” Levis said regarding his disappointment at the 31-0 victory. “I think it’s a testament to our culture, where we see ourselves and where I see myself. I made some plays that shouldn’t have happened and I’m going to watch the tape today and tomorrow and then just put it behind me like the rest of the team.”

The offensive line was also a notable weak point for Kentucky, surrendering 44 yards in rushes for loss and sacks, with Levis being taken down a total of four times.

As previously mentioned, where the offense came up short, the defense and special teams units came up big.

Having recorded several bad snaps and botched plays in Gainesville, UK’s special teams unit was perfect on the day, even blocking a punt to give the Cats the ball on the opponent’s 27-yard line before an interception saw the drive cut short.

The block was credited to sophomore inside linebacker Martez Thrower, who was happy to contribute to the game in a significant way.

“It felt really good going out and helping out the team,” Thrower said. “Every chance I get on special teams I go hard. It’s a big part of special teams to just get the offense back the ball.”

Also standing tall was Kentucky’s defense, which has become its most reliable crutch three weeks into the season, and notably junior cornerback Carrington Valentine.

Valentine stood tall on two separate attempted touchdown passes including an interception in the end zone to maintain the first shutout for the new most winningest coach in program history.

“[My performance] was solid today, there’s things to work on like always but I got my first interception so I’m kinda excited about that one,” Valentine said. “I kinda lose myself in the game, I didn’t know [we still had the shutout], I was just trying not to give up a touchdown, that’s always a defensive goal. I just wanted to win my one-on-one and it just kinda came with the interception as well.”

The game was not all good for the defense however, even if not in the way of points surrendered.

Outside linebacker J.J. Weaver went down in the first quarter with an apparent arm injury, immediately leaving the sideline and watching much of the remainder of the game from inside the tunnel.

Stoops said he didn’t believe the injury to be season-ending but would not provide further comment on the status of Wright, simply referring to him as “injured”.

Regardless, the win maintains Kentucky’s undefeated season heading into week four against Northern Illinois.

While far from the hardest opponent Kentucky will face, the Cats will have to ensure they don’t fall into a typical trap game, next traveling to Oxford, Mississippi to duel No. 20 Ole Miss to begin the bulk of its conference schedule.

Kentucky and Northern Illinois are currently slated to kickoff at 7 p.m. EST inside Kroger Field on Saturday, Sept. 24, with the game airing live on ESPN2.