Kentucky Wildcats beat Akron Zips 35-3 in college football Week 3 game at Kroger Field

Coverage from the game:

Kentucky football, behind Devin Leary's much-improved start, rolls past Akron to 3-0 record

Coverage during the game:

LEXINGTON — For the third straight week, Kentucky football welcomes an opponent to Kroger Field.

What makes Saturday's game against Mid-American Conference foe Akron different than the last two: it will be the Wildcats' first night outing of the 2023 season. UK — looking to start 3-0 after wins over Ball State and Eastern Kentucky — has excelled at home under the lights in recent years, winning 16 of its past 20 night games in Lexington.

The Courier Journal's Ryan Black and Matt Stone are at Kroger Field and will have live updates throughout the game — here and on X, formerly known as Twitter — and complete coverage after. You can follow them on X at @RyanABlack and @mattstonephotog.

FINAL: Kentucky 35, Akron 3

Kentucky 35, Akron 3 (4Q, 3:04)

Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, a running back transfer from North Carolina State, scores his first TD as a Wildcat, dashing in from the 4-yard line to put the finishing touches on the victory.

Kentucky 28, Akron 3 (4Q, 13:47)

Ray Davis reaches the end zone for the second straight drive, scoring on a 55-yard run. It's the Wildcats' first rushing touchdown of the game.

Kentucky 21, Akron 3 (3Q, 1:38)

Devin Leary gets his third TD pass of the game, with much thanks to Ray Davis. Just as Leary was about to take a sack, he got rid of the ball into Davis' waiting arms. The senior running back then sprinted to the other side of the field and up the left sideline for a highlight-reel 58-yard score.

Kentucky 14, Akron 3 (3Q, 3:27)

The Zips finally get on the board late in the third period, as kicker Noah Perez splits the uprights on a 36-yard field goal. The score followed a Devin Leary interception on the previous possession.

HALFTIME: Kentucky 14, Akron 0

Kentucky 14, Akron 0 (2Q, 0:08)

Devin Leary tosses his second touchdown of the game, finding Tayvion Robinson for a 22-yard strike on third-and-22. Leary is 12 of 16 (75%) for 208 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Kentucky fumbles ball for a touchback (2Q, 14:04)

The Wildcats went from a big play to a turnover on the same snap: Tight end Jordan Dingle hauled in Devin Leary's pass at the 35-yard line, then continued rumbling toward the goal line with Akron defenders draped all over him. Zip linebacker Shammond Cooper punched out the ball, which rolled into the end zone. Fellow linebacker Corey Thomas Jr. recovered the ball for a touchback to spoil a prime scoring opportunity for UK.

Akron commits game's first miscue (1Q, 7:25)

After a three-and-out from the Kentucky offense, Akron failed to take over possession: Zip receiver Bobby Golden fumbled the punt, allowing Wildcat defensive back Zion Childress to recover it at Akron's 36-yard line. UK didn't capitalize on the turnover, however, as it punted the ball again after committing a delay of game penalty that nullified a field goal attempt from kicker Alex Raynor.

Kentucky 7, Akron 0 (1Q, 10:34)

The Wildcats quickly march 75 yards for the score. Devin Leary caps the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Josh Kattus. It's the first touchdown of Kattus' UK career.

Kentucky football injury update

Third-year sophomore Jordan Robinson defensive back went through pregame warmpups. The backup at boundary corner, Robinson missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury. Robinson played in four games last season after transferring into the program from Livingstone College, a Division II school located in Salisbury, N.C.

Kentucky vs Akron football pregame reading

UK vs. Akron gameday guide: What to know ahead of Wildcats' first night game

UK recruiting: Wildcats add to 2024 class by flipping hard-hitting 4-star twins once committed to Michigan

'A good wakeup call': UK OC Liam Coen returns after recent health scare

Kentucky vs. Akron matchup: Story lines, key players, odds and more

C.L. Brown column: Don't pivot to basketball just yet — Kentucky football's offensive woes are fixable

Looking back at Week 2: 3 takeaways from Kentucky football's win vs. Eastern Kentucky

Devin Leary at his best: Kentucky starting QB's time at N.C. State shows how good he can be

From the hardwood: Here's where Kentucky basketball transfers will play in 2023-24

Sports betting: Now legalized in Kentucky, here are the rules, and punishments, for NCAA athletes

How to watch UK vs Akron football game

Who: Akron (1-1) at Kentucky (2-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Kroger Field, Lexington

TV: ESPNU

Radio: Tom Leach (play-by-play), Jeff Piecoro (analyst) and Dick Gabriel (sideline) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington and online at UKAthletics.com. The game also will be carried on satellite radio: Sirius (Channel 138), XM (Channel 190) and the SiriusXM app (Channel 961).

Streaming: Authenticated subscribers can access ESPNU via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky football score? Mark Stoops' Wildcats beat Akron in Lexington