Was Mark Stoops too conservative vs. Georgia? Here’s his explanation for late punt.

The fact that Kentucky almost pulled off an upset of No. 1 Georgia without scoring a touchdown for a second consecutive game speaks well of Mark Stoops’ game plan, but was UK’s coach too conservative?

Facing fourth-and-8 at the Georgia 47-yard line with 3:02 remaining, Stoops elected to call for a punt rather than attempt the conversion.

UK had all three timeouts remaining and had forced a three-and-out on Georgia’s previous possession. The punt was backed up an additional 5 yards by a false start after the punt team had already been called onto the field.

“I don’t regret punting that ball,” Stoops said after the game, noting he took the blame for a failed fourth-down attempt a week ago against South Carolina. “I felt like if we went for it there and don’t make it, then our offense if we stop them has to go the length of the field. That was going to be tough against that defense in a predictable pass situation. That’s not our strength.”

The decision backfired as Georgia quickly earned a first down with a 33-yard completion on second-and-9. The Bulldogs would add another first down on the drive to end any hope that Kentucky would regain possession with time to mount a go-ahead drive.

When the Wildcats did finally get the ball back at their own 20-yard line there were only 9 seconds left on the clock. A desperation attempt at a hook-and-ladder play was foiled when tight end Jordan Dingle was tackled before he could lateral the ball after time had expired.

“What I don’t like is one play during that four-minute drive when they hit the sail (route),” Stoops said. “We’ve got to man that up and not give them the sail route that was completed on their sideline.”

The fourth quarter decision might not have even come into play if Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan were more aggressive earlier in the game.

On UK’s final possession of the first half, the ball crossed midfield with 1:52 remaining in the second quarter. Kentucky elected to keep the ball in play with a series of runs and short passes.

Even after reaching field goal range with a first down at the Georgia 31-yard line and 35 seconds left, Kentucky did not take a shot at the end zone. Stoops eventually elected for a 32-yard field goal on first-and-10 with nine seconds still on the clock rather than attempt a pass to the end zone with no timeouts remaining.

“I wanted points,” Stoops said, pointing to the few number of completions Georgia has allowed in the red zone in recent years. “That was going to be hard sledding. We would take complete momentum away from us if we get a strip sack or a fumble and don’t go in with the lead.”

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