LEXINGTON, Ky. (WDRB) - For the second time this season, Kentucky football failed to meet a challenge against one of college football's elite programs.
The eighth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide rolled into Lexington and routed the Wildcats 49-21. It did not take long for UK to fall into a deep hole, as Alabama raced out to a 21-0 lead with almost five minutes left in the 1st quarter.
Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe used both his arm and legs to do damage without an answer from Kentucky's defense. Milroe totaled six touchdowns, getting three through the air and three on the ground.
Kentucky didn't sack the Alabama quarterback once and saw the Crimson Tide convert seven of its 11 third-down opportunities. Excluding the final drive as time expired, the Wildcat offense had eight drives that totaled just 20 yards or less, giving up three sacks and five quarterback hurries.
UK had opportunities to try and get back into the game. Devin Leary found Tayvion Robinson for a touchdown following a muffed punt from Alabama to make it 21-7 towards the end of the 1st quarter. But Kentucky went scoreless in the 2nd quarter, punting twice and committing two turnovers: a Leary interception and a turnover on downs. Alabama took a 28-7 lead into halftime.
The 3rd quarter saw another brief glimmer of hope before the Crimson Tide crushed it. Ray Davis ran into the end zone to pull UK within 14, only for Alabama to promptly respond with four unanswered touchdowns.
This was the second game of the season where Kentucky faced an opponent ranked in the top 10. The combined score of those two games, an Oct. 7 51-13 loss to No. 1 Georgia and the latest defeat at the hands of Alabama, was 100-34.
UK is now 6-4 on the season and will visit South Carolina on Nov. 18.
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