Blue Preview: Against Youngstown St., UK must avoid a letdown — and overcome an ex-Cat

Mark Story

No. 9 Kentucky vs. Youngstown State

When: Noon Saturday (Sept. 17).

TV: SEC Network.

Announcers: Play-by-play, Dave Neal; analysis, Deuce McAllister; sideline, Andraya Carter.

Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1.

Satellite Radio: XM Channel 81, Sirius Channel 81, Internet Channel 81.

Records: Kentucky (2-0, 1-0 SEC); Youngstown State (2-0, 0-0 MVFC).

Series history: First meeting.

Line: No odds.

The story line

Coming off an emotional 26-16 victory at then-No. 12 Florida in its SEC opener, Kentucky will seek to maintain its motivational focus against FCS foe Youngstown State. For UK coaches and Youngstown natives Mark Stoops, Vince Marrow and Frank Buffano, the meeting with the Penguins is a contest against their “hometown team.” The game will also mark a return to Lexington for Youngstown State’s top receiver, Bryce Oliver (10 receptions, 121 yards, two touchdowns in 2022), who played for the Wildcats from 2018-2020.

Kentucky linebacker Jordan Wright (15) had six tackles, two tackles for loss, a quarterback sack and an interception that set up a touchdown in UK’s 26-16 win at then-No. 12 Florida on Saturday night.
Kentucky linebacker Jordan Wright (15) had six tackles, two tackles for loss, a quarterback sack and an interception that set up a touchdown in UK’s 26-16 win at then-No. 12 Florida on Saturday night.

The number to watch

Kentucky’s sacks allowed. Having allowed defenders to take quarterback Will Levis to the ground seven times in the first two games, UK stands 121st out of 131 teams in the FBS in the “sacks allowed” category. The good news at Florida was that, after the Gators sacked Levis three times in the first half, they did not get to him in the second. Against an FCS foe, it would be nice if the “New Big Blue Wall” could keep Levis clean.

The big threat

Jaleel McLaughlin. The 5-foot-9, 183-pound Youngstown State running back is an example that big explosiveness can come in a physically small package. In Youngstown State’s season-opening win over Duquesne, the Marshville, N.C., product ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. He came back last week against Dayton with 129 rushing yards and a TD on 13 carries, plus a 52-yard touchdown reception.

Youngstown State running back Jaleel McLaughlin was an third-team AP FCS All-America choice in 2021 after running for 1,139 yards and 12 TDs and averaging 113.9 yards rushing per game.
Youngstown State running back Jaleel McLaughlin was an third-team AP FCS All-America choice in 2021 after running for 1,139 yards and 12 TDs and averaging 113.9 yards rushing per game.

On the spot

The Kentucky offense. As sweet as vanquishing Florida in “The Swamp” was, the victory came in a game when UK gained only 272 yards of total offense and when the Wildcats defense scored one touchdown on a pick six and set up another with an interception returned to the Gators 6-yard line. With back-to-back non-league games vs. Youngstown State and Northern Illinois ahead, new Kentucky offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello has a window to develop a more potent attack before UK returns to the SEC chase at Mississippi on Oct. 1.

Kentucky offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, left, talking to UK quarterback Will Levis, will seek to invigorate a Wildcats attack that ranks 112 out of 131 FBS teams in total offense through two games with a average of 312.5 yards per contest.
Kentucky offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, left, talking to UK quarterback Will Levis, will seek to invigorate a Wildcats attack that ranks 112 out of 131 FBS teams in total offense through two games with a average of 312.5 yards per contest.

The mood

Is ecstatic. Kentucky’s third win over Florida in the past five meetings exhilarated the Big Blue Nation. A season after UK turned up flat against and barely beat FCS foe Chattanooga (28-23), the challenge vs. Youngstown State is to avoid a post-Gators letdown.

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