Kenny Minchey rewarded Kentucky’s call to go for two

Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey changed the protection, found tight end Willie Rodriguez, and gave coach Will Stein the finish he wanted in Columbia. The winning two-point conversion sealed a 35-34 overtime victory over South Carolina on October 3 at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Stein had good reason to put the game in his quarterback’s hands. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers kept escaping Kentucky’s defense, and another overtime possession offered another chance for him to do damage.

Explaining the decision in his SEC Network interview on the field afterward, Stein said, “We weren’t stopping them much; you’ve got to go for it.” Sellers finished with 147 rushing yards, including a 74-yard run that helped South Carolina regain the lead early in the fourth quarter.

However, going for two put Kentucky’s comeback on the line. A failed conversion would have sent the Wildcats home with a loss after they had climbed out of a 17-0 hole. Stein accepted that risk, and Minchey handled the work required to make his coach look good.

Stein decided at the start of overtime, before Kentucky scored its touchdown. He wanted one chance to end the game against South Carolina’s defense. Kentucky left with a 4-1 record and two SEC wins away from home, while the Gamecocks dropped to 0-3 in conference play.

Kenny Minchey earned the final call through the comeback

Kentucky’s earlier road win at Texas A&M gave Stein some reason to trust his offense away from home. But South Carolina forced the Wildcats to work through a different problem. They punted on their first four possessions before finding any points.

Trailing 17-0 in the second quarter

A recovered fumble gave Kentucky the ball at South Carolina’s 33. Minchey contributed a 15-yard scramble before running back C.J. Baxter scored from 3 yards out. Kentucky finally had something to build on without needing to drive the length of the field.

Trailing 20-10 at halftime

Minchey completed four passes to four receivers on Kentucky’s opening possession of the third quarter. Freshman wide receiver Kenny Darby finished the drive with a 17-yard touchdown catch. The Wildcats could move the ball through the air, and spreading those throws around gave South Carolina several receivers to account for.

Discussing the slow art in his postgame media session, Minchey said, “I’ll say just having a one-play focus because you never know when a big play is going to come.” He also credited a quicker pace for helping the offense settle in.

Facing fourth down late in the third quarter

Minchey found wide receiver Nic Anderson for 11 yards to keep the possession alive, then hit him for a 32-yard touchdown on the next snap. Kentucky took its first lead, 24-20. Stein had seen his quarterback deliver when a failed pass would have handed South Carolina the ball.

And Minchey protected those chances. He threw three touchdowns without an interception, helping Kentucky keep possession while chasing the game. Darby finished with 12 catches for 96 yards, giving his quarterback a receiver he could keep returning to as the Wildcats worked their way back.

South Carolina brought pressure without a safety behind it.

The defense also deserves some credit for giving Kentucky those chances. The Wildcats stopped both South Carolina fourth-down attempts and turned the ensuing possessions into 10 points. Stein’s concern about another overtime series came despite those stops, with Sellers still capable of breaking loose.

After South Carolina scored first in overtime, Minchey’s 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Henry Boyer brought Kentucky within one. The Gamecocks then tried to hurry the quarterback on the conversion by rushing extra defenders and leaving receivers in single coverage.

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer explained that choice in his postgame press conference. “I mean, it was bringing pressure and playing cover zero and making the quarterback get the ball out of his hands right now.” Cover zero leaves no deep safety available to rescue a beaten defender.

Beamer said he considered a timeout because Kentucky appeared late getting organized, but he preferred to let the play run. Both coaches wanted the decision in their players’ hands, and South Carolina’s pressure required Kentucky to get the blocking right.

Before Kentucky’s final offensive snap, Kenny Minchey directed Baxter to block the edge. The adjustment gave him room to step up and throw. Rodriguez caught the ball along the back of the end zone, keeping his feet in bounds to finish the play.