Wilson schools young Wildcats

FAYETTEVILLE — Kentucky found out what a seasoned quarterback can do against a young secondary.

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson threw for 372 yards and tied a school record with five touchdowns in the Razorbacks’ 49-7 lightning-shortened victory Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The Wildcats (1-6, 0-4 SEC) have been decimated by injuries, and nowhere was the problem magnified quite like in the defensive backfield where Kentucky started three freshmen.

Wilson and the Razorbacks (3-4, 2-2) took advantage. Wilson threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to freshman running back Jonathan Williams on the first offensive play, and connected with Williams later in the quarter for a 74-yard touchdown.

“He’s really good, there’s no question about that,” Kentucky Coach Joker Phillips said. “They did a good job of throwing and catching, taking advantage of a young secondary.”

Wilson had the two long scores to Williams, but Arkansas also had scoring drives of 11 plays, 7 plays, 14 plays, 8 plays and 10 plays.

“They are a really good football team,” Phillips said. “With a quarterback like that, they have an opportunity to score points. They played very confidently.”

Two of Kentucky’s freshman starters were twin safeties Daron and Zack Blaylock. Daron was making his first career start while Zack was making his second.

“It was a learning experience for my first start,” Daron Blaylock said. “He’s a really good quarterback and knew how to read defenses. I was up for the challenge. Playing in the SEC, you have to be up for the challenge.”

Both Blaylocks said the defense was prepared for Arkansas’ passing game and the big plays were the result of missed assignments. Kentucky entered the game ranked 11th in the SEC and 69th nationally by allowing 396 yards of total offense and gave up 533 to Arkansas in less than three full quarters.

“We were ready for everything,” Daron Blaylock said. “We have to keep our heads in the game.”

Kentucky defensive coordinator Rick Minter said Arkansas deserved a lot of credit for its success. Minter pointed out the Razorbacks started the season with high expectations offensively and, after Wilson missed a game with a concussion, Arkansas’ offense seems to be back on track.

“The last couple of weeks they’ve really found themselves,” Minter said.

Phillips said he wasn’t concerned the blowout would discourage his young players, and the Wildcats echoed that sentiment. Zack Blaylock said Kentucky would just have to learn from its mistakes, correct them and move on.

“It was a tough game,” Blaylock said. “We have to keep grinding and get back to work. I knew they were going to pick on the secondary. I’ll keep getting better. I’ll eventually adapt.”

Phillips said the Kentucky offense didn’t help its defense any with next to no offense in the game. The Wildcats’ lone touchdown was a 61-yard pass just before the game was delayed for the second time.

“We just couldn’t get ourselves off the field,” Phillips said. “Offensively, we have to get consistency in what we’re doing. When you have a young team defensively like we do, then offensively you have to possess the ball a lot longer.”