Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky Football: Five Keys To Defeating South Carolina

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:25 p.m. ET

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The Kentucky football are in must-win mode against the South Carolina Gamecocks. How can the Wildcats get the job done in Lexington?

Sep 3, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Stanley Boom Williams (18) runs the ball against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the first quarter at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

The Kentucky football program is in the process of preparing for a game that will define the trajectory of its season. With a 1-2 record and a Week 5 clash with the Alabama Crimson Tide looming, Kentucky needs to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks in Week 4.

As is always the case during SEC clashes, it’s much easier to say a team needs to win than it is for that team to actually achieve victory.

The Wildcats blew a 35-10 lead over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles en route to a 44-35 defeat. In Week 2, Kentucky was nearly shut out when it was on the wrong side of a 45-7 demolition against the Florida Gators in Gainesville.

Fortunately, Stephen Johnson, Benny Snell Jr., and Boom Williams stepped up to lead the Wildcats past the New Mexico State Aggies for a 62-42 Week 3 victory.

With a 1-2 record and a bowl game appearance as the desired result, Mark Stoops needs to help Kentucky defeat South Carolina. Entering the game against Alabama at 1-3 simply isn’t an option for a team as hungry and inexperienced as the Wildcats.

The question of the hour is the only one that matters: how can Kentucky defeat South Carolina?

Sep 17, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Brandon McIlwain (11) pitches the ball to the ref in the end zone after his score against the East Carolina Pirates during the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

5. Contain Brandon McIlwain

The South Carolina Gamecocks entered the 2016 college football season with something of a quarterback controversy. No one player had locked down the starting role, and no one player looked the part of a star-caliber starter.

Over the past two weeks, however, freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain has been nothing short of intriguing.

McIlwain hasn’t yet put it all together, but over the past two weeks, he’s gotten the job done with his arm and legs. He threw two touchdown passes against Mississippi State and ran for two against East Carolina.

South Carolina’s offense hasn’t been producing with much volume, but if McIlwain hits his stride against Kentucky, the Wildcats will be in trouble.

McIlwain is a dual-threat quarterback who can create with his legs; he recorded a 4.67 40-yard dash in high school. He’s also capable of moving the ball down the field with his arm, which is something the secondary must be aware of.

Kentucky’s defense has allowed at least 40 points in three consecutive games, which makes containing South Carolina’s quarterback a top priority.

Sep 3, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Stanley Boom Williams (18) runs the ball against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the first half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

4. Feed Boom Williams

Stephen Johnson has the look of a future star and Benny Snell Jr. broke out last week against the New Mexico State Aggies. The most talented player on the offensive side of the ball, however, is Stanley Boom Williams.

South Carolina’s defense has done a solid job against the run in 2016, but it’s a player like Williams who could give them trouble.

Williams set a school record in 2015 by running for an average of 7.1 yards per carry. That followed his running for 486 yards and five touchdowns on 6.6 yards per carry in 2014, which implies his success wasn’t a fluke.

The fact that he’s already amassed 341 yards and a touchdown on 7.9 yards per carry in 2016 is a sign that he’s only getting better.

Williams ran for 160 yards on just 25 carries through the first two weeks of the 2016 season. He received 18 carries against New Mexico State, however, and picked up 181 rushing yards and a touchdown.

South Carolina has done an outstanding job of shutting down running backs in 2016, but Williams needs to be trusted to produce as the star that he is.

Sep 17, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Jeff Badet (13) runs the ball against New Mexico State Aggies linebacker Rodney Butler (53) in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated New Mexico State 62-42. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

3. Win Third Down

If you’re a fan of football, then you’ve likely heard someone say that games are won and lost on third down. It’s on that play that an offense either extends a drive or a defense gets off the field to preserve energy and keep points off the board.

Thus far in 2016, the Kentucky Wildcats have been one of the worst teams in the country at winning on third down.

Against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, the Kentucky football team was 3-of-9 on third downs. Against the Florida Gators, the Wildcats were an equally as poor 4-of-12 on third downs—a matching 33.3 percent.

Kentucky found some life against the New Mexico State Aggies, however, when it went 5-of-10 on third downs—50 percent.

What’s worse than Kentucky’s conversion rate is how poorly its defense has performed on third down. Southern Miss was 9-of-17, Florida went an unforgivable 14-of-20, and New Mexico State was 7-of-15.

If the Wildcats can’t extend or end drives early, then defeating an SEC opponent like South Carolina won’t be a realistic dream.

Sep 17, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Stephen Johnson (15) drops back to pass the ball against the New Mexico State Aggies in the first quarter at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

2. Stephen Johnson

South Carolina’s lone loss was suffered at the hands of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 27-14. Starting quarterback Nick Dylan Fitzgerald led Mississippi State by throwing for 178 yards and two touchdowns, and running for 195 yards on 17 carries.

The good news for the Kentucky Wildcats: with Drew Barker out, dual-threat junior transfer Stephen Johnson will get the start at quarterback.

Johnson broke out against the New Mexico State Aggies. Playing in relief of the injured Barker, he completed 17 of his 22 pass attempts for 310 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions during a 62-42 shootout victory.

Johnson also picked up 51 rushing yards on 10 carries, which helped open up the field for the rest of Kentucky’s offensive attack.

If Fitzgerald’s success against South Carolina is a sign of a weakness, then Kentucky needs Johnson to use his legs. Running backs have a tough time against the Gamecocks’ front seven, but a mobile quarterback could be exactly what Kentucky needs in order to win this game.

Johnson has the potential to be the next great Wildcats quarterback. He needs to prove last week’s win wasn’t a fluke against South Carolina.

Sep 3, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles running back George Payne (24) runs the ball against Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Jordan Jones (34) in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Southern Mississippi defeated Kentucky 44-35. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

1. Defend The [Expletive] Run

If you’ve watched the Kentucky football program in 2016, there’s likely no two words that boil your blood more than, “Run defense.” There’s no shortage of reasons to be frustrated with the manner in which Kentucky has defended the run.

If the Kentucky Wildcats are to stand any chance of defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks, the defense must improve against the run.

Through three weeks, the Wildcats have allowed every opponent they’ve faced to run for at least 200 yards. Southern Mississippi picked up 258 yards and two touchdowns, Florida ran for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and New Mexico State ran for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

If Kentucky can’t prevent South Carolina from getting the run game going, then it’ll be looking at a 1-3 record going into its clash with Alabama.

The good news for Kentucky is that South Carolina has failed to establish the run in 2016. It’s averaging just 3.1 yards per carry through three games, and has amassed a grand total of 272 yards and three touchdowns.

The bad news for Kentucky is that New Mexico State managed to dominate on the ground without having nearly as much talent as South Carolina, which has a mobile quarterback in Brandon McIlwain.

Kentucky cannot afford to let another team keep its defense on the field by moving the chains with the run. Not four weeks in a row.