Ray Davis processes emotions of final game at Kentucky

The Gator Bowl between the Clemson Tigers and Kentucky Wildcats had one of the more thrilling finishes of this college football bowl season. The Wildcats, unfortunately, would fall to the Tigers 38-35 after the two programs scored a combined 42 points in the fourth quarter.

For both programs, running backs played a significant part in their game plan. For the Wildcats, Ray Davis put together a strong performance against the Tigers’ defense. And given his effort in the game, this loss stings just a bit more for the Kentucky running back.

Following the game, Davis attempted to put his emotions and the significance of this game into words.

“Helluva game,” said Davis. “You know? It’s a game that we love to be a part of. It’s a game as a fan you love to watch. We had a really good defense. We had some good opportunities to get in the end zone, and they played their butt off. Offensively we stepped up to the plate when needed to be.”

The impact of this loss hits even harder for Davis as the Peach Bowl will go down as his final collegiate game. And the Kentucky running back ended his college football career with another quality performance.

Davis carried the ball 13 times for 63 yards with one rushing touchdown against the Tigers. He would also have four catches for six yards. Davis’s lone touchdown in the game would come late in the fourth quarter, giving Kentucky the late game 35-30 lead.

“Football is football. You know, you win some, you lose some. There’s not much to it. I’m proud to be a part of this team. I’m proud to have played that game. The rest of my life I’m going to be able to remember that and be able to know that I was part of a very historical game in a sense of just back and forth and ups and downs, highs and lows and knowing whenever adversity struck, we stepped up to the plate.”

“Again, that’s what Coach Stoops has always preached to us, is when adversity strikes, do you step up to the plate? I think everybody on this team stepped up, took a swing. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result we wanted, but I can tell you now these guys are war-ready at any time.”

The game and the season didn’t go according to plan; Kentucky finished the year with a 7-6 record. They started the year as a favorite to challenge Georgia for the SEC East crown. However, Davis still put together an impressive 2023 campaign.

He finishes the year with 199 carries for 1,129 yards, an average of 5.7 yards per carry with 14 rushing touchdowns. On top of that, he was a fixture in the passing game this season with 33 receptions, the most of anybody on the team outside of the receiver room, for 323 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.