A difficult environment awaits Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley, as he will get his first begin in opposition to a Southeastern Convention opponent in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday evening.
With each groups looking for their first SEC victory, there may be urgency for Kentucky (2-1, 0-1 SEC) and notably for South Carolina (2-2, 0-2), which was ranked No. 11 earlier than dropping to Vanderbilt, 31-7, and falling final week at Missouri, 29-20.
“Happening the street, within the SEC, taking part in at evening isn’t simple,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops mentioned. “It is gonna be a terrific problem, a recreation that is vital to each of us.”
Boley, a redshirt freshman, made his second profession begin in a 48-23 win over Japanese Kentucky two weeks in the past, finishing 12 of 21 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.
Boley was taking part in for injured Zach Calzada, who began Kentucky’s first two video games. After a bye week, and with Calzada not but absolutely recovered from a shoulder subject, Boley has risen to the highest of the depth chart.
“We have been very assured in Cutter,” Stoops mentioned. “I additionally instructed him the entire time, ‘You are gonna get that chance.”
South Carolina additionally has needed to cope with an harm scenario at quarterback as preseason Heisman Trophy candidate LaNorris Sellers was knocked out on a helmet-to-helmet hit within the first half of the loss to Vanderbilt.
Sellers returned final week at Missouri and accomplished 18 of 28 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns with out an interception.
However the Gamecocks have been no match for the Tigers on the line of scrimmage. Whereas Missouri gained 285 yards on the bottom, South Carolina netted minus 9 yards dashing.
“We have got good offensive linemen. We have got good working backs. We have got a quarterback that may run,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer mentioned. “There is a working menace. We’re simply not executing nicely sufficient.”
Destructive performs have been crippling for the Gamecocks as they yielded 5 sacks for 46 yards and dedicated 14 penalties overlaying 98 yards.
“We have got what we want. We’re simply not doing it nicely sufficient proper now as an entire,” Beamer mentioned. “We have not gotten one of the best out of this group.”
South Carolina has gained the final three conferences after Kentucky gained seven of eight video games within the collection from 2014 to 2021.
– Subject Stage Media
