Sunday, September 10, 2000
Kentucky 27, South Florida 9
Lorenzen throws for 386 yards
By
The Associated Press
Jared Lorenzen lifts receiver Derek Abney after a TD pass.
(AP photo)
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LEXINGTON, Ky. — It took one more game than he had hoped, but Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen finally has his first college victory.
Lorenzen threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns Saturday as the Wildcats beat South Florida 27-9 at Commonwealth Stadium.
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound redshirt freshman threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns in his college debut but had three costly interceptions as the Wildcats dropped a 40-34 overtime heartbreaker to Louisville.
This week, Lorenzen completed 30 of 57 passes and had only one interception as the Wildcats (1-1) jumped out front early and never let up.
“It's good to get the first one out of the way,” Lorenzen said. “I think this will get us ready to play next week. It's a nationally televised game against Indiana, and it's going to be a lot of fun for us.”
Lorenzen tossed TD passes of 27, 19 and 3 yards — the longer two to freshman Derek Abney — and freshman Chad Scott added 106 yards on the ground as the Wildcats racked up 527 yards of offense. Scott's was the first 100-yard rushing game for a Kentucky true freshman since Derek Homer ran for 137 against Tennessee in 1997.
Defensively, the Wildcats — who gave up 442 yards to the Cardinals in their season opener — held the Bulls scoreless through three quarters and allowed only 215 total yards.
“I think we improved a little bit this week,” Kentucky coach Hal Mumme said. “I'm happy that we won but really not much more overjoyed than I was after last week's game.
“Defensively, I thought we got the job done. Any time you can shut someone out for three quarters, you're doing a good job.”
Marquel Blackwell completed 12 of 24 passes for 81 yards and an interception and carried the ball 15 times for 31 yards to lead South Florida (1-1). Rafael Williams rushed 16 times for 92 yards, including a 28-yard TD, for the Bulls.
The Wildcats drove the ball down the field several times in the opening quarter but were forced to settle for a pair of Seth Hanson field goals and a 6-0 lead.
“They did a good job defensively, especially in that first quarter,” Lorenzen said. “They refused to let us get in the end zone. They are going to impress some people.”
The Wildcats drove 75 yards on their first possession of the second quarter. Lorenzen completed four of five passes on the drive, including a perfect 3-yard lob pass to Quentin McCord in the left corner of the end zone for a 13-0 lead with 8:49 to play in the half.
Lorenzen, a former football and basketball standout at Highlands, connected with Abney twice in the second half to blow the game open.
On the first, Lorenzen floated the ball into the left corner of the end zone for Abney to wrestle away from South Florida cornerback Kenny Robinson.
“Finally being able to contribute to this team is amazing,” Abney said.
“After that first touchdown, I felt like part of the team and I was overwhelmed with emotion. All I could say was "Wow!'”
South Florida ....... 0 0 0 9— 9
Kentucky ....... 6 7 7 7 —27
First Quarter
UK—FG Hanson 24, 9:30.
UK—FG Hanson 36, 3:44.
Second Quarter
UK—McCord 3 pass from Lorenzen (Hanson kick), 8:49.
Third Quarter
UK—Abney 19 pass from Lorenzen (Hanson kick), 9:27.
Fourth Quarter
SF—FG Gramatica 38, 14:55.
UK—Abney 27 pass from Lorenzen (Hanson kick), 11:36.
SF—Williams 28 run (pass failed), 10:48.
A—63,821.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—South Florida, Williams 16-92, Blackwell 15-31, Dixon 2-11. Kentucky, Scott 14-106, Homer 4-17, Pinner 9-16.
PASSING—South Florida, Blackwell 12-24-1-81. Kentucky, Lorenzen 30-57-1-382, Bryan 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—South Florida, McCready 3-22, Durant 3-6, Guerrero 2-34. Kentucky, McCord 6-120, Homer 6-55, Abney 5-62.
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