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    • Mark Stoop’s team fails in all phases against Auburn
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    Mark Stoop’s team fails in all phases against Auburn

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    LEXINGTON – It wouldn’t be difficult to apportion the blame for Kentucky football’s loss to Auburn on Saturday night. Find the Wildcats’ 2024 team photo.

    There’s the answer.

    All team members had a share in Saturday’s setback. Offence. Defense. Special teams. Coaching.

    It was a systemic failure for Britain.

    The combined ineffectiveness resulted in a 24-10 loss to the Tigers, as the Wildcats went winless (0-4) in SEC play at Kroger Field this season.

    “We have to play better in every phase of the game,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “I just got beat. The bottom line is we got beat. We didn’t play well enough at any stage to win, and that’s discouraging.”

    Things started well for the offense, with Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC) scoring on each of its first two possessions. The Wildcats did not put a point on the scoreboard after that.

    “They covered us up,” Stoops said. “They played very aggressive. … (Auburn defensive coordinator) DJ Durkin, he’s a guy from Youngstown and I’ve known DJ for a long time. He’s done a really good job.

    “They were very aggressive and in our face and pressuring us, and we didn’t respond very well.”

    Things started well for the defense: the Tigers (3-5, 1-4) didn’t have a single yard on their first two drives, which totaled five plays. The second possession ended with a turnover, as Kentucky cornerback JQ Hardaway picked off Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne. But then the Tigers started to hit their stride offensively; and the Wildcats’ defense wilted. After allowing no points and 38 yards in the opening quarter, UK gave up 24 points and more than 400 yards in the final three periods.

    “We were a little off balance all night. … We could have played better than we did,” Stoops said. “Again, you have to give them credit for a lot of the good stuff. They moved us.’

    And, Stoops noted, the Tigers “have a back that can make you miss” in Jarquez Hunter, who ran for 278 yards on 23 carries — 12.1 yards per rush.

    Hardaway said Hunter’s success — which was the most rushing yards an opponent has ever had at Kroger Field, which dates back to its opening in 1973, when it was known as Commonwealth Stadium — was due to the fact that the defense of the Wildcats didn’t execute his game. plan. Repeatedly.

    “We had a lot of missed tackles,” he said. “If you’re supposed to be in the A-gap, then you should be in the A-gap. You shouldn’t be in the B-gap. And if you go to the B-gap, then the A-gap I’ll be wide open. So stuff like that. Just trust your teammate, man.”

    Things started well for the special teams: rock-solid Alex Raynor made a 46-yard field goal, extending his school record in that category; he has made 15 straight attempts – for the first points of the game at the 11:28 mark of the first quarter. But his counterpart at punter, Aidan Laros, aided Auburn’s comeback efforts as his 38-yard kick in the second quarter gave the visitors a short field and took over at their 47-yard line. Five plays later, the Tigers crossed the goal line for the first time.

    It wouldn’t be the last: Hunter scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second half to cap the victory, Auburn’s 10th straight in Lexington, dating back to the last loss in 1966. And it was the Tigers’ 19th victory in the last 20 matchups in the series.

    Things started well for Kentucky’s coaching staff, who pressed all the right buttons for a quarter and a half. But eventually the coaching advantage also disappeared. Most notably, the offense once again failed to find much rhythm, with Gavin Wimsatt filling in for starter Brock Vandagriff at (seemingly) random moments.

    The Wildcats always planned to let Wimsatt take control on their third possession, Stoops said. But with the unit remaining in neutral along with Vandagriff, that strategy went out the window. Wimsatt played the entire second half.

    Vandagriff also did not suffer from an injury.

    “I just wanted to get a good look at Gavin,” Stoops said, “and see if he could help us move the ball.”

    Wimsatt saved his best for last. In a way. He helped the hosts drive within 2 yards of the end zone in the waning minutes. Then he threw an interception on fourth down with 4:39 left.

    “It’s not just about Gavin, as you know,” Stoops said. “It’s what was out there. Did he miss something? In real time, it was just a tough, frustrating game.”

    As each of Kentucky’s last three outings has been. And so many other games in recent seasons. Stoops admitted it’s like hitting “the replay button” to explain the team’s shortcomings.

    Rarely have those flaws been as noticeable as Saturday’s spots.

    “We have to look at all options. You can’t point fingers,” he said. ‘We have to find some solutions. It’s clear. It’s very frustrating. There are no excuses.

    “There’s nothing I’m going to say that’s the right answer. We just have to do better, right?’

    Reach Kentucky basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

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