How Kentucky got explosive against Tennessee Tech

Kentucky’s offense had another strong performance in Week 12. We saw Bush Hamdan‘s first-team scored 42 points in eight possessions with the punt team only taking the field twice. The Cats found true balance with 207 rushing yards and 261 passing yards on over seven yards per play.

Kentucky was ruthlessly efficient (62.1% success rate) but also found some extra-base hits. After scoring three explosive play touchdowns last week, the offense backed it up with three more against Tennessee Tech. UK is starting to find more big-play pop.

This is how the Wildcats scored on each explosive play touchdown.

Cutter Boley breaks contain and lowers the shoulder

Kentucky’s first drive got rolling with four consecutive run plays before Cutter Boley connected with Kendrick Law on a deep completion before being tackled at the three. On the second possession, there was some more contact inside the five but Boley wasn’t going to be stopped.

On first-and-10 outside the red zone, Kentucky’s QB1 breaks contain left and decides to lower the shoulder.

CAN'T STOP @cutterBoley 💪💪💪💪

📺 – SEC Network+ pic.twitter.com/sDVP9V0UrF

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 15, 2025

Boley gets a strong block from Dante Dowdell on the perimeter to spring the run. The quarterback then finds himself one-on-one and squared up with Tennessee Tech cornerback Jameson Wharton. Instead of cutting upfield or running out of bounds, Boley decides to run through Wharton.

That decision worked.

The quarterback knocks the defender back a couple of yards on the collision. The forward momentum then carries the redshirt freshman into the endzone. I’m not sure anyone thought Boley had the truck stick in his bag.

This big-time run and finish put Kentucky up 14-0 with just over two minutes left in the first quarter. UK would lead by double-digits for the rest of the game.

Cutter Boley throws a rocket to Hardley Gilmore IV

Kentucky saw its 28-7 halftime lead trimmed to 28-10 in the third quarter after a Kentucky three-and-out led to an eight-play, 40-yard field goal drive for Tennessee Tech in the third quarter. The offense then quickly responded with a 75-yard, 12-play drive to take a 35-10 lead in the third quarter.

That doesn’t happen without this small window throw from Cutter Boley.

.@GilmoreHardley turned on the jets 💨

📺 – SEC Network+ pic.twitter.com/mrp2jfwIeJ

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 15, 2025

Kentucky methodically moved the ball into Tennessee Tech territory with 10 consecutive run plays until Boley takes a big sack on a first down. That put Kentucky into a second-and-long situation. UK’s young quarterback then makes a ridiculous throw when Boley fires in a fastball between two defenders on a dig route. Hardley Gilmore IV does the rest.

We’ve seen Boley continually flash short-to-intermediate accuracy, but this throw is a good reminder that the velocity button is still there for a quarterback who had one of the biggest arms in the 2024 high school recruiting cycle. No. 8 let it rip.

This is a quarterback that can hit small windows thanks to a strong combination of velocity and accuracy.

Dante Dowdell shows off the speed again

Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell was added to the Kentucky roster in the offseason to give the offense a big back that could help fix the short-yardage woes. However, the junior’s biggest impact on this offense has been in the splash play department.

Dowdell got loose for explosive play touchdowns against Toledo and Florida where he showed off some of his long speed. We didn’t get to see him in a full stride against Tennessee Tech, but the former Oregon signee once again showed what he can do when he gets into space.

On Kentucky’s final touchdown drive, Dowdell produced a pair of 19-yard rushes. The final one ended in the paint.

Kentucky’s offensive line creates a huge hole off the right size on this zone concept. Dowdell does the rest. The tailback shifts into another gear but does a good job of reading blocks and bouncing outside. Instead of meeting the safety in the alley, the tailback takes advantage of a very good perimeter block by Ja’Mori Maclin to get into the endzone.

For the second game in a row, Kentucky is finding some explosive play pop from their biggest tailback on the roster. Dowdell finsihed the game with 87 yards on just 13 carries as he is adding some explosivness to the offense. When it is blocked up, Dowdell can run away from defensive backs and take it the distance.