The Kentucky Wildcats kicked off their 2025 season inside Kroger Field against the Toledo Rockets. Head coach Mark Stoops spoke highly of the Wildcats’ refurbished running back room all offseason, and the tandem of Dante Dowdell and Seth McGowan came to play Saturday for an offense that desperately needed it.
Dowdell, who transferred from Nebraska, got the start in the backfield next to quarterback Zach Calzada. The Wildcats relied heavily on the run Saturday afternoon in their 24-16 win against the Rockets.
Dowdell was electric all afternoon in the Wildcats’ backfield. He finished the game with 14 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown. On the Wildcats’ second drive of the 4th quarter, Dowdell took no time to find the end zone. The junior running back took a carry up the right sideline for a 79-yard touchdown, which ultimately won the game for the Wildcats.
McGowan also had a big day on the ground for the Wildcats. The New Mexico State transfer had 18 carries for 78 yards and a score. He finished the afternoon averaging 4.3 yards per carry. McGowan’s touchdown put the Wildcats up 17-2 at the beginning of the 4th quarter. The score capped off a 12-play, 76-yard drive for the home team.
Calzada, who put the Wildcats up early, also found the end zone using his feet. The graduate transfer from Buford, Georgia, dove over the offensive line for the Cats’ first score of the 2025 season. Calzada ended the afternoon with 14 yards on the ground.
The Wildcats secured the win over the Rockets to start their 2025 campaign at 1-0. It wasn’t pretty, but Stoops and Co. found a way to get the win with a helping hand from the running backs.
