Dante Dowdell rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown as Kentucky topped Toledo 24-16 on Saturday at Kroger Field.
Kentucky (1-0) got 78 rushing yards from Seth McGowan. The Cats rushed for 252 total yards in the game.
Quarterback Zach Calzada and the UK passing game had their moments in the game. Calzada connected on 10 of 23 through the air for 85 yards. Josh Kattus caught a career-high three passes for 43 yards for the Cats.
The UK defense held Toledo in check for most of the afternoon. The Cats held the Rockets to just 59 yards on the ground. Senior linebacker Alex Afari led the defense with a career-high 13 tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. Davern Rayner and Ty Bryant each had six tackles for UK, while sophomore linebacker Steven Soles had two sacks for the Cats.
Kentucky received the opening kickoff and the Cats were able to make a first down when Calzada connected with Ja’Mori Maclin for an 11-yard gain. UK appeared to have another first down but Calzada’s pass to JJ Hester was ruled incomplete after video review and the Cats were forced to punt.
Toledo took over at its own 10 yard line and on the second play of the possession, JQ Hardaway intercepted a Tucker Gleason pass and the Cats took over at the Toledo 29.
UK would turn to the ground game on the ensuing drive, which ended with a one-yard touchdown rush by Calzada. Jacob Kauwe added the point after and Kentucky led 7-0 with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter.
The UK defense held Toledo in check again on the next drive and the Rockets were forced to punt. Kentucky took over at its own 43 yard line with 4:02 left in the first period.
Kentucky would give the ball back on the third play of the next possession when Calzada was intercepted by Toledo’s Nasir Bowles at the Toledo 46 yard line. The Rockets would drive deep into UK territory as the first quarter ended with the Cats leading 7-0.
The Rockets would get inside the UK five yard line, but on fourth and two, Afari stopped Gleason short of a first down and the Cats took over at their own three with 13:13 left in the half.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Calzada was sacked in the end zone for a safety, making the score 7-2.
After the UK free kick, Toledo took over at its own 23 yard line. However, the Rockets were unable to do anything with the possession and were forced to punt. Kentucky took over at its own 47 with 11:25 left in the half.
On the second play of the next drive, Calzada hit tight end Willie Rodriguez for a big gain, but Rodriguez fumbled and Toledo recovered at its own 27. The Rockets would make one first down but the UK defense stopped Toledo on fourth and one near midfield and the Cats took over with 7:28 left in the half.
Kentucky got into Toledo territory but the drive stalled and the Cats settled for a 45-yard field goal from Kauwe, taking a 10-2 lead with 2:04 left in the half.
The Rockets made one first down before punting the ball back to the Cats with 1:07 left in the half. UK punted it back to Toledo and after one play, the half expired with Kentucky leading 10-2.
Toledo got the ball at the beginning of the third quarter, but the UK defense forced a three-and-out and the Rockets punted. Kentucky took over at its own 12 yard line.
Kentucky moved the ball into Toledo territory when Calzada connected with Kattus for 18 yards. However, the drive stalled and the Cats were forced to punt. Toledo took over at its own seven with 10:03 left in the third quarter.
After getting one first down, Toledo punted again and UK took over at its own 38 yard line with 8:21 left in the third quarter. The teams would then exchange punts before Kentucky was able to move the ball near the end of the quarter. Calzada and Kattus connected again, this time for 12 yards, followed by a 16-yard rush from Dante Dowdell got the Cats to the Toledo 35. UK was threatening as the quarter ended with the Cats leading 10-2.
On the sixth play of the fourth quarter, UK’s Seth McGowan rushed for a six-yard touchdown to cap a 12-play, 76-yard drive. Kauwe added the extra point and UK led 17-2 with 12:30 left in the game.
Toledo answered with its first scoring drive of the game. The Rockets went 69 yards in seven plays, capped by a nine-yard touchdown run from Gleason. Dylan Cunanan added the point after, and UK’s lead was cut to 17-9 with 9:38 to play.
On the first play of the next drive, Dowdell broke loose on the right and scampered 79 yards for a touchdown. Kauwe added the PAT and Kentucky led 24-9 with 9:22 remaining.
Toledo was able to add a late touchdown, but Kentucky recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock to preserve the victory.
Kentucky returns to action next Saturday, hosting Ole Miss in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 3:30 ET and the game can be seen on ABC.
Courtesy: UK Athletics
