RECAP: Snell runs wild as Cats pound No. 14 Mississippi State

Kentucky working lower back Benny Snell Jr. raced via a large hole in the Mississippi State protection as a part of his one hundred sixty five-yard, 4-touchdown efficiency within the Wildcats' 28-7 win over the No. 14 Bulldogs.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky is working out of doorways to kick down.

The Wildcats crashed via an extra on a wet Saturday night at Kroger box, improving to 2-0 in SEC play for the first time on account that 1977 with a 28-7 thrashing of No. 14 Mississippi State.

The newest milestone win got here just two weeks after UK snapped its 31-game dropping streak to Florida. The Cats are four-0 for the primary time due to the fact 2008 and are starting to agree with a unique season could be unfolding.

"We're knocking the dang doors down one by one," stated UK head instruct Mark Stoops, pumping the breaks slightly on big Blue Nation's postgame euphoria. "So we're going to knock a door down each seven days is what we're making an attempt to do, as a result of one among you will come up with whatever thing. (Laughs) … What other doorways do you guys received?"

find it irresistible did at Florida, Kentucky dominated either side of the road of scrimmage, dashing for 229 yards in opposition t one of the surest protecting fronts in the SEC while conserving the league's top speeding attack coming into the online game to just 56 yards.

Benny Snell Jr., mocked on Twitter by using Mississippi State working lower back Kylin Hill previous in the week for suggesting he changed into confident going against the Bulldogs' defense, accomplished with 165 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hill accomplished with 14 yards for State.

"I do not are looking to say i love it, as a result of this is an per week thing," Snell spoke of. "... i'm proud and satisfied about this offense. we are able to go against anybody, and i'm simply speaking statistics."

"He's a great running lower back," noted MSU star shielding lineman Jeffery Simmons. "I advised my teammates he backed every little thing he noted up. I consider he had like four touchdowns himself, it doesn't get any more desirable than that."

The groups played to a 7-7 tie within the first half before Kentucky broke the video game open in the third quarter. A 1-yard run by way of Snell capped an 11-play, ninety two-yard power that put the Cats up 14-7.

Snell added scores from 36 and 23 yards out within the fourth quarter to place the game away.

Mississippi State (three-1, 0-1 SEC) managed most effective 201 total yards. The Bulldogs came into the matchup averaging 587.7 yards and 50 features per online game.

Senior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who had tormented the united kingdom defense throughout his profession with the Bulldogs, turned into held to just 20 yards rushing and a hundred forty five yards throughout the air. He was sacked 3 times and intercepted via Tyrell Ajian, the primary of the redshirt freshman's profession with the Wildcats.

"We won this video game on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday via all week of guidance," UK junior linebacker Kash Daniel stated. "everybody was laser mild focused and got here in understanding what we were about to face. We got here out and did our component."

during this Cats Illustrated "swift Recap characteristic, we touch on some highlights from the uk victory...

THE first rate:

Kentucky proved that Week 2's bludgeoning of Florida become no fluke, pounding the group identified by way of many as perhaps probably the most physical in the SEC. The Cats' offensive line bullied an MSU defensive position in an effort to possible put three players within the NFL. the united kingdom defensive position shut down a Bulldogs speeding assault that changed into averaging a league-highest quality 311.7 yards per online game, preserving them to just fifty six internet yards on 28 includes.

THE unhealthy:

The Cats managed only 71 yards during the air, probably the most lowest totals in contemporary college historical past in a winning effort. Granted, Terry Wilson was handiest known as upon to throw the ball 14 times and he completed eight of these. The stream of the online game comfortably did not name on him to drop lower back that regularly, but UK will should retain constructing the passing online game as the season strikes along.

THE gruesome:

The quantity Kentucky senior linebacker Josh Allen did on the Mississippi State offensive line. Allen was credited with six tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry. It likely should had been more. the united kingdom circulate-dashing dynamo could not buy a protecting call from the SEC officiating crew on this evening. The stats simply don't accurately replicate the havoc he wreaked.

video game BALL:

Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky -- The Wildcats' big name grew to be the first player in application historical past to have a pair of four-touchdown video games in his career. He additionally broke Randall Cobb's faculty list of 37 profession touchdowns, pushing the brand new mark to 39 handiest four games into his junior season. It was the 15th a hundred-yard game of his profession, including five straight now in SEC play. Snell now sits 872 yards shy of Sonny Collins' college checklist for career rushing yards.

by way of THE NUMBERS:

0 - aspects surrendered through the uk protection within the third quarter this season, the first such stretch on the grounds that the 1980 season..

1st - Time UK has defeated two straight ranked opponents (MSU and Florida) on the grounds that 1977.

21 - largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent due to the fact that 21-0 win over Ole pass over in 1993.

201 - Fewest complete yards surrendered to a ranked opponent due to the fact 1993 win over Ole leave out, who also had 201 in that video game.

1953 - UK's final win over a ranked MSU squad.

2007 - final home win over an opponent ranked in the desirable 15 on account that the Cats defeated No. 1 LSU.

QUOTABLE:

"want to delivery just via announcing what a distinct nighttime on all fronts, definitely a superb night. I want to delivery by thanking the huge Blue Nation. that is what i am speaking about once I say it takes each person. They made a change. The fanatics made a change, the college students made a change. greatly admire the guide." -- UK head teach Mark Stoops on an crowd of 60,037 and the electric powered ambiance at Kroger field regardless of a gradual downpour all evening long in Lexington.

UP subsequent:

Kentucky returns to Kroger box next weekend for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff towards South Carolina. The Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 SEC) rolled to a 37-14 win on Saturday at Vanderbilt. The online game should be broadcast on the SEC community