Box score, MVP, and Twitter reactions from Kentucky’s loss to Alabama

· Yahoo Sports

Kentucky welcomed the Alabama Crimson Tide to Kroger Field for the second game of the Will Stein era.

Although the vibes were high and the fans executed the stripe-out, the Crimson Tide walked into Kroger Field and left with a victory, 45-17.

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The defense was calling the shots early in this one, with Kentucky’s first touchdown being scored on a tipped pick-six by defensive lineman Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace and Alabama’s first touchdown being scored by linebacker Luke Metz.

Kentucky put heavy pressure on Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, forcing him into multiple intentional grounding penalties, a fumble, and two interceptions in the first half. 

The Kentucky defense held Alabama to only five rushing yards in the first half and went into the break with a 17-13 lead. 17 points was the most points scored by Kentucky vs. Alabama since October 1st, 1988. 

The defense started the second half right where they left off, forcing the Crimson Tide into a quick three-and-out on their first possession. That was about the end of the good for Kentucky, though. 

A rare Kenny Minchey error appeared with 5:42 left in the 3rd quarter, fumbling the ball in the chaos that Alabama’s pressure brought, giving Alabama the ball on the Kentucky 29-yard line. That drive for the Crimson Tide would result in their first offensive touchdown and first lead of the day when Alabama running back EJ Crowell found the end zone for six. 

A Kentucky fake punt in the 3rd quarter was stuffed, then the next play was a 31-yard run by Alabama’s Daniel Hill, getting the Tide to the three-yard line, with Hill finding pay dirt the next play. That extended the lead for Alabama to 14 in the late 3rd, 31-17. 

The first half was extremely exciting, no doubt about it, but then there was the second half. Kentucky would go on to lose the second half 32-0, had only 62 yards in the second half, and went 1-for-14 on 3rd down. Alabama trailed for more than half of the game, then won by 28 points. 

Box Score

MVP: Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace

The MVP of this game would have to be the man who shook the stadium early in this game, Mi-Quise Humphrey-Grace.

Grace tipped and picked off Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell to start this game, turning heads early as Kentucky takes the lead to start the game. Later, he poked the ball out of Russell’s hands, returning it to the Kentucky offense. 

Ultimately, the score didn’t represent how the game actually felt. Kentucky fought throughout this contest, led by Grace and its defense. He finished the game with four tackles, one sack, one and a half tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a pick-six in the loss to Alabama. 

Kentucky vs. Alabama Twitter Reactions

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