Horton’s run provided Kentucky a successful if nervous housewarming at the “new” CWS after a $120 million renovation including player amenities such as a recruiting room and patio atop a tunnel leading to a new synthetic turf field.
Louisiana-Lafayette fashioned a comeback on the Wildcats Saturday night that had veteran Big Blue fans wondering if still another team from the Pelican state was going to cut their hearts out and make the dedication of the “new” Commonwealth Stadium a night they’d never forget – try as they might.
“I’m really proud of this football team”, head coach Mark Hudspeth said. “So we need to improve, but that’s why you play”, Stoops said. “You know what, it’s good to be in a tough game like that and let him go through some adversity and some tough plays and then come back and do what we have to do to win”. That is what is our program is about. “If people are going to come up and press us, we’re going to take shots down the football field”.
Kentucky did just that on the game-clinching drive in the final five minutes. “I know it didn’t always show tonight, but that’s why you play. They never quit”. Sophomore running back Boom Williams carried the ball 75 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and ignited the sellout crowd of 62,933.
Neither unit could initially keep pace with Kentucky, though Louisiana did break the shutout midway through the second quarter with Haack’s 4-yard run to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive.
Kentucky’s defense looked good in the first half of the game, but their inexperience began to show as they gradually wore down in the second half.
Patrick Towles was named the starting quarterback for the Wildcats and will look to lead a younger roster of talented players.
Pierce, who was playing in his first game since a season-ending injury against Texas State, then took over in recording his first career 100-yard rushing game. Their 33-17 lead dwindled and dwindled until a 33-33 tie towards the end of the fourth quarter.
The Cajuns, as expected, wore “Lafayette Strong” stickers on the back of their helmets to remember victims of last July’s Grand 16 theater shooting in Lafayette.
The Ragin’ Cajuns finally get on the board.
“On that last drive, we had momentum”, said Horton, who finished with 28 yards on six carries.
A 38-yard punt by Steven Coutts and 5-yard penalty by the Ragin’ Cajuns would give Kentucky the ball at their own 42 with 4:37 remaining.
Like his coach, Towles didn’t dwell on the negatives and opted against feeling down after a game that could have went either way.
“We just had to go out and make a play”, Towles said. The defense avoided the big play. Second half, I thought was an unbelievable team effort. He would finish with 257 passing yards as he slowed down in the second half. I could not be more proud of this football team. There’s a lot of fight in these guys. We got the best record in the country right now.
Towles continued to complete long passes. The senior rushed for 110 yards on 10 carries while McGuire added 86 on 27 attempts.
Freshman Gary Haynes caught a game-high eight passes in his debut for Louisiana with Fuselier catching a career-high seven passes. The Kentucky Wildcats are 5-7 and 7-5 against the spread.
After a trade of field goals, the Wildcats seemingly put the game away with a five yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 23 at 33-10 with 3:47 left in the game.