2026-07-06 19:34:35 Kentucky throttles Louisiana-Monroe 48-14 – NEW WTOP Skip to main content

Kentucky throttles Louisiana-Monroe 48-14

By WTOP Staff

GARY B. GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — For 22 minutes Kentucky coaches’ worst fears about letting down after a big victory were coming true as missed assignments on both sides of the ball and an overall lack of intensity put the Wildcats in a double-digit hole to Louisiana-Monroe.

One minute changed everything as the Wildcats regrouped for a dominating finish that put them on the cusp of consideration for their first bowl since 2010.

Patrick Towles threw three touchdown passes and Kentucky returned two interceptions for TDs as the Wildcats erased a 14-3 deficit with 45 unanswered points for a 48-14 nonconference victory on Saturday.

The Wildcats (5-1) awoke to surge ahead on Towles’ 83-yard TD pass to Javess Blue and linebacker Josh Forrest’s 29-yard interception return 1:05 apart in the second quarter. Towles hit Blake Bone with a 4-yard TD pass before halftime and Kentucky poured it on en route to its first three-game winning streak since 2010.

“Our guys hung in there and made some big plays on both sides of the ball, that’s the good news,” said Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, whose team has more wins than the past two seasons combined.

“We took care of business and I’m proud of them for that. There’s an awful lot on both sides of the ball that we have to get cleaned up.”

For now Stoops can dwell on many positives that initially seemed unlikely for Kentucky.

Safety Marcus McWilson returned a pickoff 36 yards for another TD, a byproduct of Kentucky’s fierce pass rush that recorded six sacks. Blue added a 21-yard TD reception and freshman running back Stanley “Boom” Williams returned from a one-game suspension to rush for 104 yards, including a 58-yard TD, after returning the opening kickoff 75 yards.

The Wildcats went on to break 45 points for the second straight week.

“This year’s team has a different vibe, different swag, different mentality on offense and defense,” said senior defensive end Alvin “Bud” Dupree, who had five tackles including 1.5 sacks. “Coaches know us now. We know the coaches. … We have a good feel for it, so we just go out and execute better.”

Kentucky’s outburst followed a lethargic opening that players and coaches worried about following last week’s stunning 45-38 upset of South Carolina, a game in which the Wildcats twice rallied from 14-point deficits.

ULM (3-3) took a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter as Pete Thomas hit Ajalen Holley and Kenzee Jackson for TDs of 12 and 9 yards respectively.

Thomas’ second TD pass followed Hunter Kissinger’s 22-yard interception return of running back Jojo Kemp’s wobbly attempt. ULM’s first score was helped by a roughing-the-passer penalty on Kentucky linebacker/end TraVaughn Paschal that put the ball on Wildcats’ 14.

“At the time, we thought those plays were the turning point and that we had a clear shot at winning,” Kissinger said, “but it did not turn out that way.”

It was all Kentucky from there as momentum shifted for good after Forrest grabbed Matt Elam’s tip and charged into the end zone with 7:47 left in the half.

“I was dropping in my coverage and the ball fell in my hand,” Forrest said. “Then it was off to the races, find a hole, get north and south.”

Kentucky outgained ULM 352-264 but allowed just 71 yards in the second half. The Wildcats also recorded 12 tackles for loss along with returning interceptions for TDs for a second straight week.

“I thought we had a good game plan, I thought we were playing well,” said ULM coach Todd Berry, whose team lost its second straight game. “The second half got away from us a little bit.”

Towles completed 16 of 28 passes for 216 yards with Blue catching three for 109 yards. Dorian Baker had three catches for 38 yards in his return from the suspension along with Williams; the freshmen were disciplined for a campus incident last week involving shots fired from an air pistol.

Thomas was 20 of 31 for 167 yards for Sun Belt Conference member ULM, which went just 1 of 12 on third down in losing its second straight game.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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