Northwestern Takes Music City Bowl Over Kentucky 24-23

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NASHVILLE, TN — At the Music City Bowl, on a not so balmy afternoon the Wildcats of Northwestern and Kentucky prepared for battle.

This was the 20th edition of this game and each team was looking to finish the season strong.

One of the highlights each year is to see the kids that take place in the pre-game ceremonies. As I headed back to the press box from the field, I was greeted by high fives from the kids as if I was a player of one of the teams. It showed the pure joy of a child being in this atmosphere even on a pretty cold day.

First Quarter

The game opened with Kentucky receiving the opening kickoff. Stephen Johnson then went to work connecting on two passes of 26 and 37 yards to get the Wildcats down to the Northwestern 3-yard line. From there, Benny Snell took it in for a 7-0 Kentucky lead.

TOUCHDOWN, KENTUCKY!

You can't hold a good man down. @stephen_h_j goes in from 3 yards out to pull UK within 17-14 with 7:11 left in 3rd. pic.twitter.com/eCNUNBb8sY

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 30, 2017

After the teams traded punts, Northwestern drove down the field and with 3:14 to play and Charlie Kuhbander kicked a 33-yard field goal to put the Wildcats on the scoreboard.

Both teams looked like they came in ready to play, but as always there were some mistakes early like penalties and some dropped passes. There was plenty of time for the teams to get it together.

Second Quarter

The second quarter saw both teams getting into a rhythm moving the ball much better offensively. Northwestern drove the ball 80 yards on seven plays to take a 10-7 lead but lost their starting quarterback Clayton Thorson to an injury that had him carted off the field.

It also saw Kentucky lose their starting running back Benny Snell when after a play finished, he made contact with a official and was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

A Stephen Johnson pass was picked off by Montre Hartage and Northwestern was all set the Kentucky 48-yard line. Five plays and 52 yards later, running back Justin Jackson got his second touchdown of the half from two yards out.

The teams would trade punts until the end of the half and went into the locker room with the score 17-7 Northwestern. With Snell out for Kentucky and Thorson out for Northwestern, it was gonna be interesting to see what team would catch the momentum in the second half.

Halftime: Northwestern 17, UK 7.

Northwestern gets ball to start the second half. pic.twitter.com/rGQ8y67uup

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 29, 2017

Third Quarter

Northwestern came out shooting in the third and got the ball down to the Kentucky 26-yard line, but they could not convert on fourth down. Kentucky then moved the ball downfield with the highlight play being a Stephen Johnson pass to Kayaune Ross for 37 yards to the Northwestern 19-yard line for a first down. Three plays later, Johnson took it in from four yards out and it was now 17-14 Northwestern.

Northwestern got back at it and began to move the ball. The running game appeared to start wearing down the Kentucky defense. Even the backup quarterback, Matt Alviti, got in on the fun with a nice run for 16 yards on a second and 21 from midfield.

But then, mistakes and penalties did Northwestern in and they were forced into 43-yard FG attempt that was no good. The momentum was now going in the direction Kentucky and they took over at the own 26-yard line.

End 3rd: Northwestern 17, UK 14. pic.twitter.com/P4Oulk3LSl

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 30, 2017

Fourth Quarter

The fourth began with the teams trading punts once again. It looked like Northwestern was having more trouble advancing the ball as they had in the first half. Kentucky, on the other hand, did start to move the football. The drive stalled out after a couple of dropped passes and they were forced to punt. Then, the tide turned in favor of Northwestern when a Stephen Johnson pass was picked off by Kyle Queiro and returned 26 yards for a pick-six. The play went to review to make sure he did not step out of bounds, but the call stood and it was now 24-14 Northwestern with 8:11 to play.

At this point, it looked like the air had been taken out of the Kentucky sails, down 10 and time running out. A 10-play, 44-yard drive ended with a Luke Otto 45-yard field goal to bring Kentucky to within seven with time left. Then, with 4:24 left, Northwestern had the ball and all they have to do is kill the clock for the win. What followed was a timeout by Kentucky on a Northwestern fourth and one from their 39-yard line.

Well, they did not get the first down and Kentucky took over at the Northwestern 39. From there, Kentucky drove the ball downfield in four plays and next thing you know Kentucky was within one point, 24-23. Unfortunately, the two-point conversion failed and Northwestern went home with the victory.

Overall, it was a great game when some may have thought it might not be. The crowd was split for both teams and they had a great time. It was not as big as one would have hoped, but the noise came and the night was a success.