In the Coach Mark Stoops era Kentucky has had South Carolina's number. That trend held true Saturday night in Columbia. The Wildcats won a 16-10 defensive battle at Williams Brice to take 7 of the 8 meetings in the series.
South Carolina never led in the game, Kentucky scored 1st on a 12 play, 75 yard drive that chewed up 6 minutes and 33 seconds. That drive was caped off by a 15 yard TD run by Kavosiey Smoke to give Kentucky an early 7-0 lead. Kentucky added a 43 yard FG from Matt Ruffalo as time expired in the 1st half,to lead 10-0 at the break.
Dominance in the run game would be a theme for Kentucky, they rushed for nearly four times as many yards as South Carolina. Kentucky ran for 230 yards for an average of 5.2 per carry, South Carolina was held 58 yards with an average of 2.2 per tote.
In the 3rd quarter South Carolina would get on the board. Gamecock QB Luke Doty found Jalen Brooks for their lone TD of the night. That would cap a 10 play, 74 yard drive that took just over 4 minutes off the clock. That cut the lead to 10-7, Kentucky answered with a FG to take a 13-7 lead after three.
The Wildcats added Matt Ruffalo's 3rd FG of the game to go up 16-7 with less than five minutes left in the game. South Carolina would get a 54 yard FG from Parker White with 2:31 left to cut the lead to 16-10. Kentucky would get the ball back and salt away the clock picking up two first downs.
South Carolina did win the QB battle, Luke Doty was 17 of 25 for 158 yards and a TD. Kentucky signal caller Will Levis was 15 of 22 for 102 yards and an interception.
Kentucky outgained South Carolina 332 to 216 in total yards. The Gamecocks were plus three in turnover margin which kept them in the game. Wildcats had 22 1st downs to SC's 12. Kentucky was 50% on third down attempts, South Carolina hot on just 25%. Kentucky got a big effort from RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. he went for 144 yards rushing on 26 carries. The Wildcats had three players with 30 or more yards rushing to South Carolina's one.
Kentucky moves to 4-0 with the win, they face their biggest test thus far when they host Florida this weekend. South Carolina falls to 2-2 on the season, they host Troy on Saturday.
