The Kentucky Wildcats football team improved to 2-0 on Saturday with a 28-17 win over Eastern Kentucky.
The Wildcats offense struggled in the first half, putting up just seven points after punting the ball four times, throwing one interception and adding one turnover on downs.
“We have to improve because the penalties are really hurting us,” Mark Stoops said following the game.
Kentucky had 10 penalties for 70 yards, with two that called back 10-plus yard rushing plays that would’ve secured first downs and sustained drives.
After stalling out in the first quarter, missing a few deep balls and gaining short yardage on first down, Kentucky finally joined the scoreboard late in the second quarter.
“We’ve got to become more efficient on first and 10,” Offensive coordinator Liam Coen said after the game.
The Kentucky offense found itself with several second-and-long situations throughout the game and converted just five of 12 third down attempts.
A 24-yard touchdown pass from Devin Leary to Tayvion Robinson allowed Kentucky to go into halftime tied with the Colonels after an ugly first half.
Once the offense got rolling it didn’t stop, scoring four touchdowns on consecutive drives, all through the air off the fingertips of Leary.
Early struggles seem to be the theme for the Kentucky offense, as last week against Ball State Leary completed just eight of 20 throws in the first half.
Against Ball State the Wildcats scored just one field goal in the first quarter and went into halftime up 13 thanks to a defensive touchdown.
While Stoops’ team may be undefeated now, the offense needs to step up in the first half when it comes to SEC play.
Kentucky will face powerhouse opponents like Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee where taking several drives to score its first points simply won’t cut it.
“We can’t wait four or five possessions in the first half and expect to go win a football game,” Liam Coen said when asked about not making a pattern of slow starts.
The Wildcats have one more game to clean up the mistakes before facing SEC opponents starting with Vanderbilt in week four and then a top 10 defense in Florida week five.
Kentucky will now shift its focus to Akron where the Wildcats take on Zips in the first night game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. ET with the game airing live on ESPNU.
