ORLANDO – Just when Kentucky seemed to fully lose control of its own Citrus Bowl outcome yesterday (Jan. 1), the nation’s No. 22-ranked team came through when it mattered the most.
Down 17-13 with 3:21 left in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats (10-3) went on an offensive drive to remember in more ways than one.
Starting from their own 20-yard line, Wildcats quarterback Will Levis was locked in as he went 4-for-6 for 79 of the 80 yards needed to take the lead back.
The recipient for most of those critical yards was receiver and Citrus Bowl MVP Wan’Dale Robinson, who got behind the Hawkeyes secondary for a 52-yard catch that got his team to the opposition’s 1-yard line with 1:55 left.
Then after a false start on Kentucky, it was running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. who got past Iowa’s defensive line en route to the end zone at the 1:48 mark.
With an extra point by kicker Matt Ruffolo, aKentucky went up by a score of 20-17.
Just as Iowa was trying to close regulation with either a game-tying field goal or game-winning touchdown, Kentucky defensive back DeAndre Square put an end to this game with an interception caught at his team’s 40-yard line with 48 seconds left.
From there, Kentucky got into victory formation and held on to its three-point lead for the win over No. 15 Iowa (10-4).
“You know, anything about them. You know, they are not going anywhere,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said of Iowa in yesterday’s press conference.
“The first half, I felt like we were really playing very good football,” Stoops said. “I would have liked to see us capitalize in the red zone and score some touchdowns to create some more separation, but give them credit. They don’t make it easy. I felt like at halftime, one of the last things I said was believe me, they are not going away, but neither are we. We knew it would be a 60-minute football game and again, it was. Our team is used to playing a lot of close games, tough games, against quality opponents, and that was the case today.”
Robinson, who caught 10 passes for 170 yards, spoke on his game-changing play that set up Rodriguez’s game-winning score.
“We had a shell concept, I believe it was DeMarcus [Harris]. He took the corner out and I just kind of went underneath him,” Robinson said. “I got the ball, and once I turned, I saw a corner coming at me and wanted to make him miss and whoever else, was coming, make them miss. I don’t really know how to explain it. It is just more of instincts. You just go out there and do it. I can’t really tell you how to do it or what to do. It is just God-given, I guess.”
Levis (17-for-28 passing, 233 yards, one touchdown, one interception) spoke on how the game-winning drive came about and more.
“Lost my voice, going to try my best,” Levis said. “Credit to the defense for getting the ball back to us, three-and-out — letting us get the ball back with three minutes and change. We were in a two-minute mentality, but gave us some breathing room to go out there. I know we had definitely enough time to get things done.”
Levis had more to say about the game-winning drive.
“Just trusting in our preparation,” Levis said. “We had a great three weeks of practice. Bowl game — you get more practice, so you have to take advantage of those days of practice. We definitely did all the way up until our run-through yesterday. We had great Bowl prep and practice. We haven’t been very successful in two-minute drives so far this year, so it’s great to see the work on that pay off in the biggest moment possible.”
Square went ahead and spoke on his game-sealing interception.
“I was in coverage,” said Square, who added six tackles and one tackle for loss in the game. “I was watching 84 [Sam Laporta], because that was who they were targeting a lot. I had my eyes on him, and it was like he wasn’t even looking for the ball. Once I look back, I saw the running back, and I am like, oh, wow. If he catches it, I am going to have to make a tough tackle, either way.”
Square went further into his analysis of the game-ending play.
“I wasn’t even looking at the ball, and I saw something flying and I am like, whoa, there is the ball,” Square continued. “I was like, okay, do I just let it fall or am I close enough to catch it? I am like, I am close enough to catch it, so I just get under and it fit right in the pocket. I didn’t have to do anything. It fit perfectly.”
With 10 wins, Kentucky has completed one of its most successful seasons in school history.
As for Iowa, this was also a great season overall, despite the final outcome.
“We knew coming in, it was going to be a tough, physical, competitive game,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Kentucky has a good team, veteran team and very physical team, so congratulations to them, Coach Stoops and everybody involved with their program. Just really proud of our guys. They fought right to the end. We didn’t play well enough to win and left some things out there certainly, but that is in part credit to Kentucky and just something we have to work through here.”
Ferentz had more to say about the game’s outcome and how his team’s season ended.
“I thought the guys came back and really played a great second half, and we came up short,” Ferentz continued. “So again, very, very proud of our guys. I have been saying all season long, this is a very special football team. It has been really an honor to work with these guys. This is the last game for this football team. It has been an honor to work with them — I think speaking on behalf of our entire staff that way. What I just got done telling those guys, fought to the end, to the last whistle and expected it to go down to the end. Can be really proud, to have a 10-win season.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Vrbo Citrus Bowl and Kentucky Football
