Jim Brown, USA TODAY SPORTS
The Kentucky Wildcats got their first win of the season on Saturday with a 41-7 blowout over the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks. The Kentucky offense looked much better in game two of the Mark Stoops era, as quarterbacks Maxwell Smith and Jalen Whitlow both played and both played well.
The defense also showed quite a bit of improvement from week one to week two. In fact, the UK defense did not give up any points. Miami’s only points of the game came when the RedHawks returned a fumbled punt for a touchdown.
Kentucky is likely feeling much better about themselves, and they need that feeling heading into the toughest stretch of schedule that they, or perhaps any other team, will face all season.
It begins on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium when Kentucky faces its arch rival, the Louisville Cardinals. Louisville is ranked seventh in the country and has beaten its first two opponents of the season by a combined score of 93-14. U of L quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is a legitimate contender for the Heisman Trophy, which will prove to be a much bigger challenge than anything Kentucky has seen in its first two games.
While Louisville hopes to contend for the BCS National Championship this season, Kentucky is in the midst of a rebuilding project. Stoops inherited a team that has limited talent, and while he is doing an outstanding job on the recruiting trail, none of those committed players can help the Wildcats this season.
It will be the job of Stoops and his coaching staff to come up with a game plan that can keep Kentucky in this game until the fourth quarter. That’s a tall task, but if the ‘Cats can stay close, anything could happen in this rivalry game.
Tim Letcher is a contributing writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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Kentucky Wildcats Give Mark Stoops First Win vs Miami (OH) In A Blowout
Kentucky Wildcats Use Two Quarterbacks Effectively in Win Over Miami (Ohio)
