Kennesaw State proved a hurdle too many for the Wildcats on Saturday as the hosts took the spoils with a 24-5 victory.
The Owls led at the break after a tight first 40 minutes had been decided by an interception and a breakaway try which saw Kentucky down 7-0 at halftime.
Seven minutes of the second half had been played when Kentucky was able to answer with an unconverted try from Jaydon Hudson. The Wildcats did not learn from that first half mistake as Kennesaw State repeated the feat 17 minutes in to the second half as they took a 12-5 lead.
Three minutes later and the hosts were on the scoreboard again after a penalty aided their progress to within five meters of the Kentucky line. It was from that position that they were able to win a lineout and cross for the try to push the score out to 19-5 and Kentucky was having to chase the game.
With 13 minutes remaining the Owls wrapped up the scoring and the game with a fourth try, this one also from a lineout close to the Kentucky line. Kentucky could not find the gears to get back into the game and eventually succumbed to a 24-5 scoreline.
Head coach, Gary Anderson didn’t comment much after the loss but did sum up his thoughts in one post-game sentence, “Sometimes success can lead to complacency and you it takes a young, hungry team to remind you how hard you need to work to stay successful,” he told KYWR.
The loss drops Kentucky to 3-2 on the season and, more importantly, 2-1 in the conference with two games to play. Conversely, Kennesaw State moved to 5-0 (3-0) with the win and virtually have one foot in the SCRC Championship Game after this result.
The “B” team kept their unbeaten season rolling with a strong 29-0 win over the Owls to move to 5-0 on the campaign. Tries came from Peter Guariglia (2), Jayden Elwood and Tyrese Scott along with three conversions and a penalty from Kaiden Fothergill.
Kentucky has a bye week next weekend to be followed by a double header in which they will face a highly touted Lindenwood-Belleville team and Middle Tennessee State, currently leaders of the conference’s Division Two.
