It wasn’t an offensive explosion, but Kentucky did just enough to defeat Toledo, 24-16 in the season opener on Saturday at Kroger Field.
With a roster stocked with 55 newcomers, the Wildcats got a big lift from three of their 27 transfers, including running backs Dante Dowdell (Nebraska) and Seth McGowan (New Mexico State). Dowdell and McGowan combined for 207 yards rushing for the Wildcats who wore down the Rockets’ defense with 220 yards rushing.
"They are good players," Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. "I’m glad you saw that today and I’m glad we had an opportunity to get them in the open field."
The Wildcats (1-0) won their sixth straight home opener, a string of five in a row and did so against the gritty Rockets, a preseason favorite to win the Mid-American Conference.
"I don’t think they (the players) are satisfied," Stoops said. "But, we will take the victory at any time. Our players are appreciative to be 1-0. We all know what Toledo is capable of and they weren’t going to go away."
In his Kentucky debut, Dowdell ripped off a much-needed 79-yard touchdown run, the longest of his career, in the second half that provided adequate separation between the two teams. Known as a power running back, Dowdell displayed his explosiveness and made a statement.
"I want to change the narrative on me," he said. "I’m still going to be a power back, but I still want to let everyone know that I can break my runs too.”
Dowdell finished with 129 yards on 14 carries and McGowan gained 78 yards. on 18 attempts.
In his seventh year at the collegiate level, quarterback Zach Calzada threw for 85 yards in his debut with the Wildcats. Calzada added 14 yards rushing and scored the team’s first touchdown on a 1-yard rush in the first quarter. Calzada made several deep throws and connected on a 23-yard completion to Willie Rodriguez, his longest connection.
The revamped offensive line didn’t surrender a sack and had just three penalties for 30 yards, an improvement from last year’s squad that struggled with mistakes and miscues at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball last season.
While the offense was hit and miss in the opener, the team’s defense was on task and limited the Rockets to just 59 yards rushing and had an interception in the first half. The Wildcats gave up 329 total yards, most of which came in the fourth quarter behind Toledo veteran quarterback Tucker Gleason.
Gleason, one of the top returning players in the Mid-American Conference, threw for a game-high 270 yards and one touchdown. The Rockets' performance wasn't a surprise to Stoops.
"We overcame those bad plays and won the football game," Stoops said. "We beat a very good team that’s getting Top 25 votes. It’s not like they’re a bad team. We got the victory."
Much to the delight of Stoops, it was the Wildcats’ defense that set the tone early and had a pair of fourth-down stops, including a goal-line stand on their own 4-yard line in the first half. Kentucky linebacker Alex Afari produced the crucial tackle at the goal line and led the Wildcats with 13 tackles. Afari had nine solo tackles, one sack and two tackles for a loss.
"He was around the football," Stoops said. "He’s been very very steady, very good player, great young man, again, great leader. So happy for Alex. That’s the way he’s been playing."
Toledo coach Jason Candle was disappointed with the first half when the Rockets' offense was scoreless. They trailed the Cats 10-2 at halftime.
"Ultimately, we have to start better and be better in the first half, especially offensively. We made a lot of mistakes that looked like Week 1 things today. We tried to guard against those in preseason practice, but today some of those things bit us in the backside. That can't happen against a quality opponent."
GAMETRACKER: Ole Miss at Kentucky, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. TV/Radio: ABC, UK Radio Network.
(AP Photo Michael Swensen)
