Wan'Dale Robinson provides Citrus Bowl fireworks in thrilling Kentucky win
Kentucky and the Citrus Bowl appear to be a match made in heaven. For the second time in four years, things got crazy in the fourth quarter at Camping World Stadium.
After having seemingly no momentum the entire second half, the Wildcats found a way to win another bowl game in chaotic fashion. Thanks to the explosive Wan’Dale Robinson along with steady hands Yusuf Corker and DeAndre Square, the Wildcats moved to the winner’s circle in Orlando.
KSR is live from the scene to provide some instant takeaways. Winning double-digit games still matters in college football.
Wan’Dale equals winning
One of the biggest storylines of the offseason developed when Wan’Dale Robinson announced that he would be moving back home and spending his junior year at the University of Kentucky.
Man, was that a terrific turn of events for both parties.
In the 20-17 Citrus Bowl win over Big Ten West champ Iowa, the former high four-star recruit went off for 170 yards on 10 receptions. The future NFL Draft pick saved his best for last.
On the final possession of the game, the Wildcats marched 80 yards in eight plays and the All-SEC performer had a significant workload. Robinson contributed on half of those plays.
Wan’Dale Robinson made a terrific diving catch on third-and-10 to start the drive and then produced what could go down as the Kentucky football play of the year on what could be his final catch as a Wildcat.
As a bonus, that catch clinched a program-record for Robinson as the receiver ends his junior year with a program-record 1,348 receiving yards to go with a program record 104 receptions.
Wan’Dale Robinson just had one of the best individual seasons in program history. The high-profile transfer from Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills was a huge reason why.
Banged up defense makes just enough stops
In the third quarter, DeAndre Square left the game with an injury. The loss was a big blow to a thin defense.
For multiple possessions against a top-15 team, Kentucky was without numerous starters. Most of the defensive front was operating with the twos for most of the season. The Hawkeyes were able to put together consecutive touchdown drives.
However, that would change when Square returned to the lineup.
Kentucky produced consecutive three-and-outs in the fourth quarter to give their offense a chance to win the game. Then, Square was the one who clinched the game with a game-sealing interception.
For the first time this season, Kentucky produced three takeaways, and that opportunistic play came at the perfect time.
In the end, Kentucky got the stops needed in winning time and that allowed the Wildcats to pull off the comeback.
Big Blue Wall has a rough outing
During pregame, Kentucky announced that starting left tackle Dare Rosenthal was a late scratch for the game. That loss created some shuffling along the offensive line.
The shuffled-up group had a rough day at the office against a physical Iowa front.
The Hawkeyes entered bowl season with a No. 94 ranking in sack rate (5.38%) but Iowa looked elite against Kentucky. In 34 dropbacks, Iowa recorded six sacks for a sack rate of 17.65 percent.
Kentucky had no answers for the Iowa pass rush.
Starting left guard Kenneth Horsey was bumped out to left tackle and did not have many great moments. Meanwhile, Austin Dotson is now starting after the Wildcats lost right guard Eli Cox for the season after the Tennessee game. The redshirt senior also had issues with Iowa in pass pro.
The success of the pass rush affected Will Levis, and the redshirt junior quarterback appeared to be looking at the rush quite often. The performance will bring up a lot of questions in the offseason as Kentucky could have to replace both Rosenthal at left tackle and Darian Kinnard at right tackle.
Middle Eight wins again
The Middle Eight is the four-minute period to end the second quarter and the four-minute period to begin the third quarter. During this swing, teams can steal possessions and points. The winner of the coin toss often can have consecutive possessions in the game.
Kentucky found a way to win the Middle Eight at the Citrus Bowl, and it played a huge role in the final result.
In the second quarter, Kentucky went 72 yards in 14 plays and milked over eight minutes off the clock before settling for a 21-yard field goal from Matt Ruffolo. A couple of plays later, D’Eryk Jackson gave Kentucky the ball back with 2:09 remaining.
Liam Coen’s offense had to settle for another short field goal, but the Wildcats went 6-0 in the Middle Eight and got the ball back to begin the second half. When looking up at the end of the game, those two scores were essential to the final result.
Some situational football allowed the Wildcats to get to 10 wins.
Significant program win
In 2018, Kentucky rode star power to a 10-3 season capped off by a win over Penn State in the Citrus Bowl. Behind Josh Allen and Benny Snell Jr., many thought it would be hard for Kentucky to have a season like that again.
Just three years later, Kentucky reached double-digit wins again.
The Wildcats finished the 2021 season with 10 wins, and the highlights were blowouts over LSU and Louisville with late squeakers against Florida and Iowa. Once again, Kentucky has proven that the Wildcats are a rising football program that is knocking on the door in the SEC East.
Kentucky’s recruiting ceiling is being raised, and the Wildcats are consistently beating top 25 opponents. The culture appears to be strong in Lexington, and Mark Stoops has a program that looks like one of the best 20 in college football.
The Wildcats keep reaching benchmarks, and momentum is building in Lexington. Stoops has a program that is heading towards an eventual SEC East title.
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