Three Plays: Will Levis, special teams blunder gets Kentucky over the hump

Kentucky found a way to walk out of Faurot Field with a 21-17 SEC East win over Missouri on Saturday. The Cats had to earn the win, but they were also given some help.

Behind a gutty performance from the defense, Kentucky had numerous opportunities on the road. Will Levis was able to make some big third-down throws in the red zone to put points on the door. Meanwhile, one huge mistake by Missouri played a big role.

Let’s jump into the three plays that made the ultimate difference in Kentucky’s fifth one-possession victory over Mizzou since 2015.

Will Levis finds Tayvion Robinson in the red zone

After a botched punt by Missouri gave Kentucky the football 34 yards from the endzone in the third quarter, the Cats needed to play some complementary football. That means turning the short field into points.

After five consecutive rushes from Chris Rodriguez Jr. got Kentucky into the red zone, the Cats faced a third-and-five at the Missouri 19. Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello goes to a heavy set with three tight ends lined up into the field to isolate senior wide receiver Tayvion Robinson into the boundary.

The play design works.

The Virginia Tech transfer gets a free release as Mizzou brings a double cornerback blitz, and Will Levis fires a strike to Robinson in front of two defensive backs to give the Wildcats a goal-to-go situation.

Kentucky scores two plays later to take a 14-3 lead after the offense had some struggles in the middle of the game. The Cats play complementary football thanks to a big throw against six-man pressure brought by Missouri.

Will Levis delivers in the red zone again

After consecutive touchdown drives by Missouri, the Wildcats found themselves trailing for the first time in the game with 8:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Cats needed their offense to deliver. They did just that in their next possession.

After a short kickoff, Will Levis hit Dane Key to get into Missouri territory. Kentucky creates a red zone possession in five plays but another untimely false start created a third-and-long. The offense would ask Will Levis to make another big third down throw in the red zone, and the redshirt senior delivered.

Dane Key works through some contact to get open. The offensive line creates a clean pocket. Levis puts it on No. 6. The freshman wideout makes a man miss and finishes the play in the endzone.

When Kentucky had to have it, No. 7 made three big throws in the red zone that directly led to all three touchdowns by the Wildcats. QB1 was indeed QB1 in Columbia.

Missouri makes a huge mistake

After Kentucky takes the 21-17, the defense responds to get a big three-and-out. The Cats then have a chance to milk some clock but the Missouri defense responds to force a three-and-out. Kentucky’s punt team takes the field as the Tigers are set to get the ball back down four with over two minutes remaining and one timeout.

Then a Kentucky disaster led directly to a Missouri disaster.

After a bad snap sails over Colin Goodfellow’s head, the veteran safety makes a heady play of picking up the ball and attempting to get a punt off. As that is happening, Goodfellow is drilled by Missouri’s Will Norris. Since Kentucky’s punter never left the tackle box, this is a textbook roughing-the-punter penalty.

Kentucky is rewarded with a new set of downs and milks nearly two full minutes off the clock before the Tigers regain possession at their own 13 with 38 seconds remaining. Missouri is only able to get three non-spike snaps off before a fumble recovery on the desperation lateral play ended the game.

A horrible error by Kentucky was bailed out by an awful error by Missouri in the kicking game. College football truly is a wild sport.

On to Vanderbilt.