Vanderbilt football falls to Kentucky as AJ Swann struggles, Ray Davis returns
Vanderbilt football sputtered in its SEC opener against Kentucky, with three A.J. Swann interceptions playing a critical role in a 45-28 loss at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday.
The Commodores (2-3) played without their top three safeties after Jaylen Mahoney was ejected for targeting early in the first quarter. Despite that, the defense had pockets of good play as both offenses struggled.
Kentucky's Maxwell Hairston returned two of Swann's interceptions for touchdowns, one in the first quarter and one in the fourth. Though Swann was officially sacked once, he was constantly under pressure. He left the game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury after an incomplete pass and was replaced by Ken Seals.
Former Vanderbilt running back Ray Davis scored two touchdowns for Kentucky (4-0) and ran for 78 yards with two TDs in his return to FirstBank Stadium.
Vanderbilt's poor start vs. Kentucky
It was a disaster for Vanderbilt right off the bat, as Mahoney got ejected for targeting on the second defensive play of the game, leaving the Commodores without both starting safeties (De'Rickey Wright is injured) as well as cornerback BJ Anderson.
Kentucky scored a touchdown on that drive again when when Swann, facing heavy pressure, threw an ill-advised pass straight to Hairston. After a deep interception on the next drive, the Wildcats scored another touchdown to match a program record for first-quarter scoring, courtesy of Davis.
Vanderbilt fought back
Down 24-0 late in the second quarter, Vanderbilt got the ball with just under five minutes to go and kicked a field goal. That swung the momentum as the Commodores tacked on a touchdown shortly before halftime.
Vanderbilt forced back-to-back three-and-outs to start the second half, and Jeffrey Ugochukwu grabbed an interception that led to a Commodores field goal to make it 13 unanswered points. Vanderbilt forced another three-and-out, but Swann's second interception of the game swung the momentum back to Kentucky.
Ray Davis returns
Davis scored two touchdowns and also ripped off a 38-yard run, though his production (78 yards and two TDs on 17 carries) was modest overall as both offenses struggled.
Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary was 15-for-29 for 205 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, but Swann was worse: 16-for-40 for 189 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.
An occasional stand-in for Davis, second-string running back JuTahn McClain was a standout for the Wildcats, averaging 10.7 yards per rush.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt falls to Kentucky as AJ Swann struggles, Ray Davis returns
