Towles helps lead Kentucky past Ohio 20-3

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Patrick Towles used his arm to lead Kentucky to victory in its season opener. He used his hands and feet to keep the Wildcats perfect Saturday.

A week after throwing for 377 yards and a touchdown in his first career start, Towles threw for 170 yards and rushed for 59 more to lead the Wildcats to a 20-3 win over Ohio. The sophomore signal caller completed 17 of 31 passes and one touchdown and led the Wildcats to their first 2-0 start since 2011.

Although Kentucky's offense wasn't as explosive as last week's 59-14 rout of Tennessee Martin, it was enough to help the Wildcats avenge a 28-16 loss to the Bobcats in 2004. Kentucky amassed 402 total yards against the Bobcats, with 232 of those yards coming on the ground.

Towles had six rushes of 10 yards or more on 22 attempts, including a 16-yard jaunt in the second quarter. Towles said he was "comfortable" with throwing and catching the football.

"I'm making it through so far," he said of the running plays. "We'll play some bigger, stronger teams, but whatever (offensive coordinator Neal Brown) gives me, I'm ready to take it."

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said he may "have to back off" the double-digit rushing attempts by Towles, but praised his quarterback's ability to make plays under pressure.

"He pulled the gun, and ran it and made some very good decisions," Stoops said. "He's just a big guy (and) he's sneaky fast. He's making good decisions."

Ohio coach Frank Solich was impressed with Towles' performance.

"(He) was able to make plays, both in the throwing game and in the running game," he said. "He kept some drives alive."

When not evading defenders, Towles made successful completions to four different receivers, with sophomore Ryan Timmons catching 10 passes for 95 yards, both career highs. Towles likes the way the receivers are catching on to his style two games into the season.

"I see guys out there who are hungry for the football and that's all I can ask for," Towles said.

Dorian Baker had two catches for 41 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown reception to open Kentucky's scoring with 3:33 remaining in the first quarter.

Kentucky was without starting running back Braylon Heard who sat out because of a sprained ankle. Heard, a junior transfer from Nebraska, rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the team's opener last week.

JoJo Kemp and freshman Boom Williams split time in the backfield in Heard's absence. Williams led the Wildcats with 60 yards rushing on five carries, including a 53-yard touchdown run with 8:24 remaining in the first quarter.

After two straight scoring drives to open the contest, Kentucky's offense managed just three points on its final four possessions of the first half. Towles completed 10 of 17 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown in the first two quarters. He added 46 yards on 13 carries.

Ohio (1-1) avoided the shutout on Josiah Yazdani's 44-yard field goal at the 12:12 mark of the third quarter.

Kentucky held consecutive opponents scoreless in the first half for the first time since 1988. The Wildcats have had six takeaways and no turnovers through the first two games.

"I'm very encouraged with the way we're taking care of the ball offensively, creating some turnovers, and today there was a couple gifts in there, but we'll take it," Stoops said. "That's a good place to start."

The competition gets tougher for the Wildcats next week in the Southeastern Conference opener at Florida. The Gators opened the season with a 65-0 rout of Eastern Michigan Saturday in Gainesville.

"We've just got to keep on putting our head down and going to work and getting better — coaches and players and everyone, and we will," he said.