Game Notes: No. 9 Kentucky 31, Youngstown State 0

Notes from the Wildcats third win of the 2022 season

The Kentucky Wildcats improved to 3-0 on Saturday afternoon, blanking the Youngstown State Penguins 31-0 at Kroger Field. 

Here are some important game notes from the shutout win: 

Kentucky 

• Kentucky is 3-0 for the fourth time in the last six seasons under head coach Mark Stoops, joining the 2017, 2018 and 2021 seasons.
• UK has won 18 consecutive nonconference games, the longest active streak in the nation.

The Win

• Kentucky held Youngstown State to no points, marking its first shutout since limiting Miami (Ohio) to no points at a neutral-site game in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sept. 5, 2009 (42-0).
• It marked Kentucky’s first shutout at home since holding Vanderbilt to no points on Nov. 16, 1996 (25-0) 
• UK’s largest margin of victory in a home shutout since a 35-0 win over Kent State in 1993.
• Kentucky has allowed 29 points so far this season, fewest in the first three games since 2008 (19 in the first three games).
• This is the first time UK has held its first three opponents under 300 yards since the first three games of the 1989 season
• Youngstown State was 0-10 on third-down conversions, the first time UK has accomplished that feat since holding Georgia to 0-of-10 in 2005.

Player Stats

• Senior quarterback Will Levis completed 27-of-35 passes for a season-high 377 yards, which is the second-most in his career
• It marked Levis’ fifth 300+ yard passing game in his career and his second this season.
• Dane Key had season highs with six catches for 90 yards, including a three-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
• He has recorded a TD catch in each of the first three games of his collegiate career.
• The last Wildcat with a TD catch in the first three games of a season was La’Rod King in 2011.
• His three TD catches already ties the UK freshman single-season record, equaling the mark of three by Derek Abney in 2000 and Tommy Cook in 2001.  
• Senior wide receiver Tayvion Robinson has recorded a reception in 29 consecutive games, as he grabbed a team-high tying six passes for 66 yards this afternoon.
• Senior running back Kavoisey Smoke rushed for 66 yards on a career-high 18 carries, recording one touchdown.
• He has now reached 1,484 career rushing yards, which ties Mike Fanuzzi (1971-74) for the 24th-most career rushing yards in program history.
• True freshman Barion Brown had season highs with five catches for 56 yards.
• Redshirt freshman wide receiver Chris Lewis had the first pass reception of his collegiate career go for a touchdown.
• Redshirt freshman wide receiver Dekel Crowdus got his first collegiate catch and totaled two receptions for 17 yards this afternoon.
• Junior receiver DeMarcus Harris had a career-long 58-yard reception.
• Freshman defensive back Alex Afari Jr. led Kentucky with five total tackles, which included one solo tackle and a tackle for loss. 

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