Youngstown State PenguinsvsKentucky Wildcats
YSU 13/UK 45
Things to say
Kentucky beat Youngstown State 45-13 at Kroger Field to open the season.
01
opener
Kentucky handled Youngstown State 45-13, never really close. They jumped out early and cruised. Total tune-up game.
02
key player
Kenny Minchey looked the part in his first start. 18-of-27 for 301 and four touchdowns. That's an efficient day, no wasted throws.
03
hot take
Beau Brungard threw for 243 and it still didn't matter. When your QB is your leading rusher at 29 yards, you couldn't move the ball up front.
04
deep cut
Watch Kenny Darby. Only three catches but 74 yards and a 37-yard score. That's a real deep threat, not a garbage-time stat.
05
exit
Anyway, it's a warmup. The SEC slate is where we'll actually learn something about this team.
The recap
Kentucky never let this one get interesting, jumping out 28-0 before Youngstown State found the end zone and cruising to a 45-13 win. Kenny Minchey was the story, carving up the Penguins for 301 yards and four touchdown passes to four different guys, spreading it around all afternoon.
Beau Brungard kept battling for YSU and hit Lynn Wyche-El for 111 receiving, but by the time they answered, the game was already out of reach. Wildcats open the season looking sharp, and everything the Penguins put up after that first quarter was garbage-time window dressing.