Kentucky running back trio powers Wildcats past South Alabama, hits milestone not seen since 2020

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Kentucky Football did not look like the same team that defeated No. 9 Texas A&M last Saturday when it faced South Alabama on Saturday. The Wildcats ultimately cruised to a 45-21 victory, but the start of the game was far from pretty.

Kentucky found itself trailing 21-14 before turning things around. The Wildcats scored the final 10 points of the first half to take a 24-21 lead into halftime, with the running back room playing a major role in the comeback.

For the first time since 2020, Kentucky had three players rush for more than 100 yards in the same game.

The last time the Wildcats accomplished the feat was against Ole Miss in 2020, when Kentucky lost a heartbreaking 42-41 game in overtime. Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed 17 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns, Terry Wilson had 22 carries for 129 yards and three touchdowns, and A.J. Rose rushed 12 times for 117 yards and one touchdown.

Kentucky’s running backs matched that historic performance Saturday.

C.J. Baxter led the way with 16 carries for 149 rushing yards and one touchdown. Jason Patterson added 137 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown run toward the end of the first half, while Jovantae Barnes rushed eight times for 100 yards and a touchdown.

It was an outstanding performance from Kentucky’s running back room, but the Wildcats will need more from Kenny Minchey moving forward.

If Kentucky hopes to pull off another SEC upset against South Carolina on the road next Saturday, Minchey will need to improve his performance through the air. The Wildcats cannot expect their running back room to produce another historic performance every week, especially on the road against an SEC opponent.

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