I’m not going to mince words. That was a game that UK absolutely had to win.  Kentucky’s coaching staff approached it in that way. In the first half, UK found itself in a tight battle, down 13-10.

In that first half, UK struggled mightily on offense and failed to capitalize on Vandy mistakes. The passing game was deplorable, while the running game found room on the outside, but little on the inside. Morgan Newton and Mike Hartline split time at quarterback, but both threw interceptions. It was late in the second quarter when either threw a completion. In fact, Derrick Locke had the most passing yards of any ‘Cat in the first half on the bomb he threw to Newton (the game ended that way as well).

In the second half, Joker Phillips was not going to mess around with developing his freshman quarterback or reinvolving the returning Mike Hartline. Phillips decided to pound it with his two best offensive players, Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke. Perhaps he recalled the visceral reaction of ‘Cats fans when he elected not to do that very thing at the end of the Mississippi State loss.

No surprise, but Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb responded accordingly. Locke went for 144 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown, while Randall Cobb fell just short of 100 yards on 14 carries, adding to the Legend of Cobb with 2 more rushing touchdowns.

It now reads '14' under Rushing TD's

It was a gutsy performance by two players who are etching their names into Kentucky football history more and more with every game and every carry/catch/throw/return. The two are nursing themselves back to health, but they did not have the luxury of resting today, because bowl eligibility was at stake.

Thanks to Locke and Cobb, UK is now in the position in its last two games to improve its bowl resume. Chick-Fil-A Bowl representatives were on hand for UK’s win, and the fact that Vanderbilt Stadium was filled with traveling UK blue has to help UK’s case. However, UK’s fans can only do so much; it’s going to take AT LEAST one win in UK’s final two against Georgia and Tennessee.

If UK is going to pull a win against either of those two teams, whoever takes the field at QB is going to have to do a lot more in the passing game. As good as UK’s running game has been this year, we just can’t expect a 308 yard rushing performance in the future. Hartline or Newton is just going to have to be better, and I hope that Brooks settles on just one of the two.

It’s not a good sign when your starting quarterback has more yards receiving (41) than passing (40). Morgan Newton did do what was asked of him in leading the ‘Cats on 2 second half touchdown drives, but he wasn’t asked to do much with his arm. He did have a big completion on a slant to La’Rod King, who has clearly established himself as the biggest receiving threat outside of Cobb. I’m just glad someone else on this team can run a slant route.

Chris Matthews basically disappeared in the passing game, but he was very much a factor with his blocking in the running game. Most of the time it’s the blocking that comes last, so at least he has that down, but he has a lot of improvement to make to live up to his hype.

On the defensive side, UK limited Vandy to just 209 yards on just 3.6 yards per play. Frankly though, I’m a little disappointed that UK allowed a touchdown, because Vanderbilt is THAT bad on offense. Mackenzi Adams missed receivers all over the place and UK clogged holes in the running game.

The ‘Cats did a good job on 3rd down, holding Vandy to 5-15, but they forced just one turnover. On one Vandy field goal drive, Vandy twice fumbled, but UK defenders tried to pick the ball up to return it rather than just fall on it…maddening.

Even though it was far from a thing of beauty, it was a win, a big win that makes UK bowl eligible for the 4th straight year, an achievement that deserves some serious recognition.