Austin Peay is winless, but if you ask Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, the struggling Governors can be a dangerous opponent.
Although the odds overwhelmingly favor the Wildcats this week, Stoops said his team can’t afford to overlook the Ohio Valley Conference program in his team’s home finale Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium. A win would give Kentucky six victories and make the Wildcats bowl eligible for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
“It’s our next opponent and next opportunity,” Stoops said. “We wanted to get six two weeks ago but it is important to get six. I’ve never denied that. I said it in the summer and when we were sitting here at 0-2. It’s important. We were never quit fighting or improving and we’ll battle tooth and nail until the season is over.”
The Governors (0-10) have struggled during the past five years and have lost 26 straight games going into their regular-season finale.
“We are in no position to overlook anybody,” Stoops said earlier this week. “We are worried about ourselves and worried about getting better and pushing the program forward. And getting six wins and getting to the bowl game.”
In addition to reaching six victories, the Wildcats (5-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) can build momentum going into the regular-season finale at No. 3 Louisville set for Nov. 26.
Ranked third in the SEC and 17th nationally in rushing yards per game (238.5), the Wildcats have been working on fine-tuning their overall attack going into the last two weeks of the regular-season.
Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran said his unit left too much on the field and didn’t seal the deal in a 49-36 loss at Tennessee last week in Knoxville and wants the Wildcats to iron out the wrinkles in the team’s offensive scheme.
“The recipe for this week is for us to get better, so we’re just detailing everything we do and we’ve got to continue to get better to get to the next level,” Gran said. “They’re working hard. That’s not the problem. The problem is is that you’ve got to do the little things right at all times and that’s detail and that’s discipline.”
In addition to missed opportunities on offense, Stoops was disappointed in Kentucky’s lackluster showing on the defensive end in the double-digit loss to the Volunteers.
“it was all about the explosive plays,” Stoops said. “There were nine explosive plays in the run game alone. And that is a bad recipe right there. That was a combination of things. There were some new wrinkles and some details we need to fundamentally play better and there were some missed tackles. So all of the above. All of us, whether it is scheme or structure of the defense or missed tackles or the details of the defense, we need to execute better. I think there were nine explosive plays for 272 yards. That is not good.”
Prior to kickoff, the Wildcats will honor 11 departing seniors and three other players who will not return next season because of injuries. Among the players who will be recognized include Jojo Kemp, J.D. Harmon, Ryan Timmons, Jon Toth and Blake McClain.
“Those guys took a leap of faith and jumped in at some very tough times and got thrown into some situations where it was very difficult for them and it has been tough,” Stoops said. “It is nice to see us be in the position that we have been in. We are not always perfect, but we have come a long way and we are never going to look back. I think those guys have been a big piece of that.”
Gametracker: Austin Peay at Kentucky, 4:30 p.m., Saturday. TV/Radio: SEC Network, 98.1 FM WBUL.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter