CRAWFORD | Kentucky can't cash in late chances, falls to No. 20 Ole Miss 30-23

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – First things first: Mark Stoops again has a Kentucky team capable of being competitive against one of the best schedules in the country. On Saturday, it went toe-to-toe with No. 20 Ole Miss.

But still, operational errors and other shortcomings kept the Wildcats from getting over the jump.

The Wildcats fell to the Rebels 30-23, dropping a game they had every chance to take — but never quite seized. It was another tight finish in a series that has had plenty of those recently.

You have to credit Kentucky for its effort. You also have to wonder when Kentucky teams will stop sabotaging themselves.

Saturday was just another example.

A game of inches and injuries

Trailing 27-20 with just over seven minutes to play, Kentucky had two chances from the outskirts of the red zone to tie the game.

The first came with Zach Calzada at the controls, driving the Wildcats to the Ole Miss 20-yard line. But after converting a fourth down earlier in the drive, the momentum stalled.

On 3rd-and-10, Calzada threw to the sideline for Josh Katy's, who appeared to draw contact from a defender before the ball arrived — but no pass interference was called.

A play later, on 4th-and-9, Calzada threw a pass on the run that sailed out of the back of the end zone. No chance. And Calzada, clutching his right shoulder, exited the game for good.

Calzada hurt, Boley enters late

Kentucky's defense gave it another chance. Lane Kiffin went conservative, running on three straight plays, the last of which ended with quarterback Austin Simmons hurt.

The Wildcats got the ball back, and on redshirt freshman Cutter Boley's first pass downfield, drew an interference call that set it up in Ole Miss territory. But Kentucky could do little on its next three plays, and Boley was sacked on fourth down, giving the ball back to Ole Miss.

Ole Miss was facing a key third-down play when Kewan Lacy ran wide to the right side and broke free for a 33-yard run for the back-breaker. Former WKU kicker Lucas Carneiro kicked a 38-yard field goal to put Ole Miss up 10, and Kentucky would run out of time.

Boley would hit Hardley Gilmore for a 38-yard game that let the Wildcats kick a quick field goal and try an onside kick, but Ole Miss recovered the kick, and that was that.

For the Wildcats, there was no real rally. Just another game that slipped away in the margins.

How it started

The game began with promise for the Wildcats, who jumped out to a 10-0 lead thanks to two first-quarter interceptions by Ty Bryant — both setting up short fields and scores.

But after that? The UK offense managed just 38 yards on its next five drives.

Ole Miss outgained Kentucky 202-98 in the first half and flipped the game before the break. Quarterback Austin Simmons found Ayden Williams on a 17-yard touchdown pass, then added a 1-yard sneak with 0:26 left in the half to give the Rebels a 17-13 lead they never relinquished.

A look at the numbers:

Total yards: Ole Miss 409, Kentucky 353
First downs: Ole Miss 22, Kentucky 20
Third down: Kentucky 3-of-13
Turnovers: Ole Miss 2 (both INTs), Kentucky 0
Penalties: Kentucky 9 for 61 yards
Time of possession: Ole Miss 33:20, Kentucky 26:40
Seth McGowan rushed 15 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns
Calzada was 15 of 30 through the air for 149 yards before leaving the game with an injury. Boley completed 1 of his 3 passes, for 38 yards.
Kendrick Law caught six passes for 44 yards, while Ja’Mori Maclin caught two passes for 56 yards.
Linebacker Alex Afari and safety Ty Bryant each had 10 tackles.