Kentucky football quarterback Zach Calzada’s debut was far from flawless, but the Wildcats still managed to grind out a 24-16 win over Toledo on Saturday at Kroger Field.
Calzada, a seventh-year transfer who has made stops at Texas A&M, Auburn, and Incarnate Word, completed just 10 of 23 passes with no touchdowns and one interception. He did find the end zone on a 1-yard run late in the first half, providing a much-needed spark in an otherwise frustrating night.
Mistakes nearly proved costly. On a third-and-medium,
Calzada faced heavy pressure as Kentucky left a defensive end untouched. His rushed throw sailed into the arms of a Toledo defender for an interception.
Later, he made the wrong decision on a run-pass option, keeping the ball and getting tackled in the end zone for a safety. In three consecutive drives, Kentucky gave up an interception, a safety, and a fumble. Those kinds of mistakes will cause major issues in SEC play unless they’re corrected.
Still, the Wildcats’ defense and running game held firm, led by timely stops in the red zone and a late scoring drive that sealed the victory. The win gives Mark Stoops’ team a chance to regroup before heading into a tough matchup next week, as the Wildcats travel to Oxford to face Ole Miss.
Lane Kiffin’s Rebels boast one of the nation’s most explosive, high-tempo offenses, and the head coach will be looking for revenge after previously losing to Kentucky last year. For Calzada and the offense, avoiding turnovers and finding rhythm early will be critical to keeping pace with Ole Miss’ firepower.
