Kentucky senior linebacker Josh Allen says the Cats have to “continue to play together” going into Saturday night’s showdown against unbeaten Mississippi State.
“After the Florida game, we move on,” said Allen. “It was a good team win but we had to move on to the next team (Murray State). Now we have to come with a focus and edge to win game four.”
Winning game four, though, is going to be even more difficult for Kentucky (3-0) than winning at Florida was to break a 31-year losing streak two weeks ago. The Bulldogs climbed to No. 14 in this week’s poll under first-year coach Joe Moorhead. That’s the highest Mississippi State has been ranked since finishing the 2014 season at No. 11.
Even with a new coach, Mississippi State’s showing is no real surprise. Mississippi State returned 17 starters (nine offense, eight defense) from last season’s 9-4 team that beat Louisville 31-27 in the TaxSlayer Bowl. The Bulldogs are so talented that 2017 starting running back Aeris Williams — who ran for 1,107 yards last year) lost his starting spot to sophomore Kylin Hill, who ran for 211 yards in a season-opening win at Kansas State. But Hill ran for 101 yards last week and has now gone 420 carries without losing a fumble.
But the Bulldogs are the kind of complete team that Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has dreamed of building. The Bulldogs are either first or second in the SEC in nine team statistical categories. Mississippi State is No. 9 nationally in scoring offense (50 points per game) and has a nation-best 30 20-yard plays.
Mississippi State is No. 6 in scoring defense (8.7 points per game). Two Mississippi State defenders (Montez Sweat and Jeffery Simmons) lead the league in tackles for loss with 5.5 apiece and the Bulldogs are allowing just 2.5 yards per rushing attempt.
Kentucky junior Benny Snell is averaging 125 yards rushing per game and has three touchdowns — but State has not allowed a rushing touchdown this year. Last season the Bulldogs limited him to 18 yards on seven carries in a 45-7 blowout of the Cats.
“I am looking forward to it now. I know Mississippi State is good. They have a good defensive line. Their linebackers swarm to the ball. As an offense we are going to make sure we are prepared. We are going to be ready for them,” Snell said.
Does he remember much about last year’s loss to Mississippi State?
“Not really. I didn’t play that much. We were just rotating. They were swarming to the ball. We were getting a lot of turnovers. Throwing interceptions, fumbling, just beating ourselves,” Snell said. “This team this year, we don’t beat ourselves. Or if we know by a quarter or halftime we make adjustments and we will keep moving forward.”
Central Michigan and Florida both had players show their lack of respect for Snell, a preseason all-SEC running back, before they played UK?
Now it’s Snell doing the brash talking going into Saturday night’s game.
“I am going to run on any team. You could be an NFL team and my college team will (run on you). It don’t matter. You know what I am saying,” Snell said after UK beat Murray State. “This offense don’t fear nobody. I am looking forward to it. I know they are good. But our offense is good, too. It’s going to be fun.”