LEXINGTON — Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for 126 yards on 22 carries but the 13th-ranked Wildcats, playing without the services of starting quarterback Will Levis, fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks 24-14 on Saturday night at Kroger Field.
Levis was unable to play after suffering a lower body injury during last week’s loss at Ole Miss and was on the sidelines in a protective boot.
So Head Coach Mark Stoops called on redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron to make his first career start. The Somerset, Kentucky, native would make a commendable effort as he completed 15 of 27 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.
Rodriguez went over century mark for the 16th time in his UK career, moving him past Mark Higgs and into fifth place on Kentucky’s career rushing list in the game.
Kentucky (4-2, 1-2 SEC) received the opening kickoff but, on their very first play from scrimmage, fumbled on a reverse play and South Carolina’s Tonka Hemingway would scoop up the loose ball and returned it to the Wildcat two yard line.
MarShawn Lloyd scored a 2-yard touchdown run on the Gamecocks’ first offensive snap. Mitch Jeter added the extra point and South Carolina lead 7-0 just 13 seconds into the game.
Lloyd finished the night with 110 yards on the ground on 22 carries to lead the Gamecock rushing attack.
Disaster would strike again later in the quarter, as the Gamecocks would block a Kentucky punt and recover the ball on the Wildcat 22. South Carolina leads the nation in punt blocks with five this season.
However, the Kentucky defense would turn away the South Carolina scoring threat as safety Tyrell Ajian would sack Gamecocks’ quarterback Spencer Rattler, forcing a fumble that would be recovered by teammate JJ Weaver at the 21.
The Wildcats seemed to finally have momentum on their side as they would march down the field as Rodriguez carried the ball five times for 37 of the 52 yards on the drive.
Unable to advance any further, Kentucky would be forced to settle for a field goal. But as luck would have it, Matt Ruffolo's 45-yard attempt would bounce off the left upright, keeping the Wildcats scoreless after one quarter.
Kentucky (3-3, 1-2 SEC) would finally get on the scoreboard as Sheron would use a play-action fake to Rodriguez to hit a wide-open Jordan Dingle to tie the game up with 8:30 left in the half.
Despite the score, Kentucky would struggle the rest of the way, being held to a minus 7 yards rushing and managing just 135 yards of offense in the second half.
Rattler was able to overcome two early turnovers and throw the go-ahead touchdown pass at the 12:47 mark of the third quarter, as he would hit Antwane Wells Jr. on a wide receiver screen, who split between a host of Wildcat defenders and race 42-yards for the score.
Jeter would add a field goal for the Gamecocks to make the score 17-7 with 2:38 remaining in the third period.
Running back Jalen Brooks would add an insurance score midway through the fourth on a 24-yard run as South Carolina would lead 24-7 halfway through the final period of play.
Kentucky would manage a late score as Sheron would toss a 10-yard touchdown pass to JuTahn McClain with 2:49 remaining in the game, but it wouldn't be enough as the Wildcats would drop their second consecutive game in conference play.
South Carolina (4-2, 1-2 SEC) won its first road game since topping East Carolina in Beamer's second game on Sept. 11, 2021.
Kentucky hosts No. 23 Mississippi State next week, which routed Arkansas 40-17.
South Carolina 7 0 10 7 = 24
Kentucky 0 7 0 7 = 14
First Quarter
SC — MarShawn Lloyd 2 run (Mitch Jeter kick),14:47.
Second Quarter
UK — Jordan Dingle 16 pass from Kaiya Sheron (Matt Ruffolo kick). 8:30.
Third Quarter
SC — Antwane Wells Jr. 42 pass from Spencer Rattler, (Mitch Jeter kick), 12:47.
SC — 32 field goal by Mitch Jeter, 2:38.
Fourth Quarter
SC — Jalen Brooks 24 run, (Mitch Jeter kick), 6:53.
UK — JuTahn McClain 10 pass from Kaiya Sheron, (Matt Ruffolo kick), 2:49.
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