Quarterback Zach Calzada steers Kentucky to victory over Toledo in their opening game.
Kentucky QB Zach Calzada Leads Wildcats to Victory Over Toledo
In a thrilling college football game, the University of Kentucky secured a 24-23 victory over Toledo, thanks in large part to the impressive performance of their new quarterback, Zach Calzada.
The game began with Calzada making an immediate impact, rushing for a 1-yard touchdown to open the scoring for Kentucky in the first quarter. However, Calzada's deep passes seemed to be a challenge early on, as he completed only 3 of 10 attempts for 50 yards.
Toledo responded by scoring their first points with a sack on Calzada in the end zone with 13:08 remaining in the second quarter, making the score 10-2 in favour of Kentucky. But Calzada and the Wildcats were not deterred. He led a 12-play, 76-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown, expanding Kentucky's lead to 17-10.
In the second half, Kentucky shifted their strategy to a heavier running attack, with junior running back Dante Dowdell rushing for a career-high 129 yards on 14 attempts. Dowdell scored two touchdowns, including a 79-yard touchdown with 9:22 to play, extending Kentucky's lead to 24-10.
Seth McGowan, another running back for Kentucky, also contributed significantly, scoring a touchdown and contributing 78 yards on 18 attempts. He added another touchdown with 12:30 remaining, making the score 24-10.
Toledo fought back valiantly, with Junior Vandeross III catching a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:55 remaining, narrowing the gap to 24-16. Tucker Gleason then scored a 9-yard touchdown run for Toledo with 9:38 left, setting up a tense final few minutes.
Despite Toledo committing 11 penalties for 94 yards, potentially sabotaging their upset bid, the Rockets were unable to score again, giving Kentucky the 24-23 victory. Calzada completed 13 of 33 passes for 165 yards in the game, showing promise for the future of the Wildcats' offence.
Calzada, who previously studied at Texas A&M University before transferring to Kentucky, made his debut a successful one, leading the team to a hard-fought victory over Toledo. The Wildcats will look to build on this win as they continue their season.
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