Kentucky turned a competitive first half into a convincing 45-21 victory by simply running away from South Alabama.
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The Wildcats amassed 567 total yards, including a massive performance on the ground. CJ Baxter rushed for 149 yards, Jason Patterson added 137 and Jovantae Barnes reached 100. Patterson scored three touchdowns, Baxter added another and Barnes also found the end zone.
South Alabama actually made Kentucky work early. The Jaguars scored 21 second-quarter points and tied the game at 21 before Patterson broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown with 1:22 remaining in the half. Kentucky added a field goal before intermission and took a 24-21 advantage into the locker room.
Then the Wildcats took control.
Kentucky outscored South Alabama 21-0 after halftime. Patterson scored again early in the third quarter, then added his third touchdown early in the fourth. Quarterback Kenny Minchey capped the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Steven Carr.
Minchey didn’t need to carry the offense. He completed 19 of 25 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown without an interception while Kentucky’s backs did the heavy lifting. The Wildcats averaged an impressive 8.3 yards per offensive play.
South Alabama quarterback Jared Hollins threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions. The Jaguars accumulated 354 yards, respectable production against an SEC opponent, but Kentucky’s explosive running game proved far too much.
The Wildcats improved to 3-1 with one of their strongest offensive performances of the young season.
