Kentucky dominates Eastern Michigan 48-23 in Week 3
Kentucky overwhelmed Eastern Michigan 48-23 on Saturday in Week 3, with the Wildcats' defense setting the tone throughout the contest. The home team jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter and never relinquished control, extending their advantage to 28-16 by halftime before pulling away in the second half.
Eastern Michigan's offense, led by Noah Kim's 330 passing yards, managed moments of competence but couldn't sustain drives against Kentucky's defense. Kim connected with Terry Lockett Jr. for a 64-yard touchdown in the second quarter and found Tavierre Dunlap for a 39-yard gain in the first quarter, with Dontae McMillan adding 83 rushing yards. Lockett led the receiving corps with 90 yards.
Kentucky's defense generated Kentucky's top play of the game in the second period, forcing a crucial stop that proved pivotal. The Wildcats outscored Eastern Michigan 10-7 in the fourth quarter to seal the decisive victory. The game went over the 49.5-point over/under, and Eastern Michigan covered the 27-point spread in a lopsided affair that remained relatively competitive by the final margin.
AI-generated recap · Aug 16, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Eastern Michigan | 3 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
 Kentucky | 14 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 48 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Eastern Michigan | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 25-43 | 12-21 |
| Pass Yards | 330 | 240 |
| Rush Yards | 131 | 253 |
| Total Yards | 461 | 493 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| 3rd Down | 4-14 | 5-11 |
| Penalties | 7-45 | 7-68 |
| Possession | 30:04 | 29:56 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Noah Kim pass intercepted Daveren Rayner return for 25 yds to the EMU 10
Noah Kim pass intercepted Daveren Rayner return for 25 yds to the EMU 10
Seth McGowan run for 6 yds to the EMU 4
Seth McGowan run for 4 yds for a TD (Jacob Kauwe KICK)
Dontae McMillan run for 7 yds to the EMU 32
Tavierre Dunlap run for 9 yds to the EMU 41 for a 1ST down
Dontae McMillan run for 16 yds to the UK 43 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass complete to Terry Lockett Jr. for 13 yds to the UK 30 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Terry Lockett Jr.
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Porter Rooks
Noah Kim pass complete to Ben Prosper for 8 yds to the UK 22
Tavierre Dunlap run for 1 yd to the UK 21
Cutter Boley pass complete to Kendrick Law for 2 yds to the UK 23
Seth McGowan run for 7 yds to the UK 30
Dante Dowdell run for 6 yds to the UK 36 for a 1ST down
Dante Dowdell run for 1 yd to the UK 37
Cutter Boley pass complete to Josh Kattus for 23 yds to the EMU 40 for a 1ST down
(07:46) No Huddle-Shotgun Dowdell,Dante rush right for 3 yards gain to the EMU37 (Marshall,Jason) PENALTY UK Holding (Farmer,Jalen) 10 yards from EMU40 to EMU50. NO PLAY.
Dante Dowdell run for 1 yd to the EMU 49
Cutter Boley pass incomplete to Willie Rodriguez
Cutter Boley pass complete to Willie Rodriguez for 25 yds to the EMU 24 for a 1ST down
Cutter Boley pass incomplete to Josh Kattus
Cutter Boley pass incomplete to Hardley Gilmore IV
(05:45) No Huddle-Shotgun Boley,Cutter pass incomplete deep right to Rodriguez,Willie thrown to EMU00 PENALTY EMU Personal Foul (Blair,Messiah) 12 yards from EMU24 to EMU12, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Seth McGowan run for 12 yds for a TD (Jacob Kauwe KICK)
Noah Kim run for 7 yds to the EMU 32
Tavierre Dunlap run for 5 yds to the EMU 37 for a 1ST down
Tavierre Dunlap run for no gain to the EMU 37
Noah Kim pass complete to Tavierre Dunlap for 39 yds to the UK 24 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Tavierre Dunlap
Noah Kim pass complete to Jamarien Wheeler for 4 yds to the UK 20
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Joshua Long
Rudy Kessinger 38 yd FG GOOD
Dante Dowdell run for 8 yds to the UK 33
Dante Dowdell run for 7 yds to the UK 40 for a 1ST down Eastern Michigan Penalty, Defensive Offside (Noah Kim) declined for a 1ST down
Dante Dowdell run for 2 yds to the UK 42
Cutter Boley pass incomplete to J.J. Hester
Cutter Boley pass incomplete to Kendrick Law
Aidan Laros punt for 51 yds
Noah Kim pass complete to Dontae McMillan for 6 yds to the EMU 13
Dontae McMillan run for no gain to the EMU 13
Noah Kim pass complete to Tanner Lemaster for 13 yds to the EMU 26 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim run for 10 yds to the EMU 36 for a 1ST down
Dontae McMillan run for 2 yds to the EMU 38
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Tanner Lemaster
Eastern Michigan Penalty, Offensive Holding (Noah Kim) declined
Mitchell Tomasek punt for 41 yds , Ty Bryant returns for 25 yds to the UK 46
Kendrick Law run for 16 yds to the EMU 38 for a 1ST down
Seth McGowan run for 4 yds to the EMU 34
Cutter Boley pass complete to Hardley Gilmore IV for 32 yds to the EMU 2 for a 1ST down
Seth McGowan run for a loss of 1 yard to the EMU 3
Cutter Boley pass complete to Willie Rodriguez for 3 yds for a TD (Jacob Kauwe KICK)
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Terry Lockett Jr.
Noah Kim pass complete to Joey Mattord for 22 yds to the EMU 47 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim sacked for a loss of 5 yards to the EMU 42
Dontae McMillan run for 14 yds to the UK 44
Dontae McMillan run for 3 yds to the UK 41 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass complete to Joshua Long for no gain to the UK 41
(07:09) No Huddle-Shotgun Kim,Noah pass incomplete deep right to Devereaux,Nick thrown to UK03 PENALTY UK Pass Interference (Thomas,Kevis) 15 yards from UK41 to UK26, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Ben Prosper run for 7 yds to the UK 19
Tavierre Dunlap run for no gain to the UK 19
Noah Kim run for no gain to the UK 19
Rudy Kessinger 37 yd FG GOOD
Cutter Boley pass complete to Josh Kattus for 34 yds to the EMU 41 for a 1ST down
Seth McGowan run for 17 yds to the EMU 24 for a 1ST down
Seth McGowan run for 4 yds to the EMU 20
Seth McGowan run for 11 yds to the EMU 9 for a 1ST down
PENALTY UK False Start (Wollschlaeger,Alex) 5 yards from EMU09 to EMU14. NO PLAY.
Seth McGowan run for 1 yd to the EMU 13
Cutter Boley run for 9 yds to the EMU 4
Cutter Boley pass complete to Josh Kattus for 4 yds for a TD Eastern Michigan Penalty, Defensive Holding (Noah Kim) declined (Jacob Kauwe KICK)
Noah Kim pass complete to Dontae McMillan for 5 yds to the EMU 30
Noah Kim run for 6 yds to the EMU 36 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass complete to Terry Lockett Jr. for 64 yds for a TD (Rudy Kessinger KICK)
Cutter Boley pass incomplete to Seth McGowan
Cutter Boley run for 9 yds to the UK 34
Seth McGowan run for no gain to the UK 34
Aidan Laros punt for 47 yds, fair catch by Juan Salas at the EMU 34
Noah Kim pass complete to Joshua Long for 25 yds to the UK 41 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass complete to Jamarien Wheeler for 9 yds to the UK 32
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Joshua Long
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Jamarien Wheeler
Rudy Kessinger 50 yd FG GOOD
C. Boley takes a knee
End of 2nd Quarter
Nathan Dibert kickoff for 61 yds , Kendrick Law return for 16 yds to the UK 49 Kentucky Penalty, (8 Yards) to the UK 9
Dante Dowdell run for 3 yds to the UK 12
Cutter Boley pass complete to Fred Farrier II for 33 yds to the UK 45 for a 1ST down
Dante Dowdell run for 1 yd to the UK 46
Cutter Boley pass incomplete
Cutter Boley pass incomplete to Hardley Gilmore IV
Aidan Laros punt for 54 yds for a touchback
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Terry Lockett Jr.
Dontae McMillan run for 2 yds to the EMU 22
PENALTY EMU False Start (Small,Everett) 5 yards from EMU22 to EMU17. NO PLAY.
Dontae McMillan run for 7 yds to the EMU 24
Mitchell Tomasek punt for 42 yds , Ty Bryant returns for 3 yds to the UK 37
Seth McGowan run for 14 yds to the EMU 49 for a 1ST down
Seth McGowan run for 5 yds to the EMU 44
Cutter Boley run for 5 yds to the EMU 39 for a 1ST down
Seth McGowan run for 6 yds to the EMU 33
Seth McGowan run for no gain to the EMU 33
Cutter Boley pass incomplete to Fred Farrier II
Jacob Kauwe 51 yd FG GOOD
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Terry Lockett Jr.
Noah Kim pass complete to Joshua Long for 7 yds to the EMU 32
PENALTY EMU False Start (Dahoue,Dodji) 5 yards from EMU32 to EMU27. NO PLAY.
Noah Kim pass complete to Nick Devereaux for 5 yds to the EMU 32
PENALTY EMU Delay Of Game 5 yards from EMU32 to EMU27. NO PLAY.
Carter Evans run for no gain to the EMU 27
Jason Patterson run for no gain to the EMU 27
Cutter Boley pass complete to Kendrick Law for 27 yds for a 1ST down Kentucky Penalty, (-10 Yards) to the EMU 14 for a 1ST down
Seth McGowan run for 6 yds to the EMU 8
Seth McGowan run for 8 yds for a TD (Jacob Kauwe KICK)
Noah Kim pass complete to Dontae McMillan for 11 yds to the EMU 36 for a 1ST down
Ben Prosper run for 7 yds to the EMU 43
Noah Kim pass complete to Ben Prosper for 5 yds to the EMU 48 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim sacked by Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace for a loss of 17 yards to the EMU 31
Noah Kim pass complete to Joshua Long for 13 yds to the EMU 44
Noah Kim run for 10 yds to the UK 46
Noah Kim run for 3 yds to the UK 43
Cutter Boley pass complete to Ja'Mori Maclin for 36 yds to the EMU 21 for a 1ST down
Jason Patterson run for 12 yds to the EMU 9 for a 1ST down
Jason Patterson run for 4 yds to the EMU 5
(00:11) Boley,Cutter sacked for loss of 9 yards to the EMU14 (Evans,Carter) PENALTY EMU Holding (Scott,Joshua) 3 yards from EMU05 to EMU02, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Seth McGowan run for no gain to the EMU 2
Cutter Boley run for 1 yd to the EMU 1 Eastern Michigan Penalty, Personal Foul (Noah Kim) to the EMU 3
Jason Patterson run for a loss of 3 yards to the EMU 6
Jacob Kauwe 24 yd FG GOOD
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Dontae McMillan
Noah Kim pass complete to Nick Devereaux for 7 yds to the EMU 32
Noah Kim pass complete to Nick Devereaux for 19 yds to the UK 49 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass complete to Tanner Lemaster for 3 yds to the UK 46
Noah Kim pass complete to Terry Lockett Jr. for 13 yds to the UK 33 for a 1ST down
Terry Lockett Jr. pass incomplete to Noah Kim
Dontae McMillan run for a loss of 4 yards to the UK 37
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Terry Lockett Jr.
Rudy Kessinger 55 yd FG MISSED
Jason Patterson run for a loss of 3 yards to the UK 34
PENALTY UK False Start (Pete,Shiyazh) 5 yards from UK34 to UK29. NO PLAY.
Cutter Boley pass complete to Jason Patterson for 9 yds to the UK 38
Eastern Michigan Penalty, Defensive Holding (Juan Salas) to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Jason Patterson run for 6 yds to the EMU 44
Jason Patterson run for 3 yds to the EMU 41
Jason Patterson run for 10 yds to the EMU 31 for a 1ST down
Cutter Boley pass complete to Hardley Gilmore IV for 16 yds to the EMU 15 for a 1ST down
Jason Patterson run for 4 yds to the EMU 11
Jason Patterson run for 5 yds to the EMU 6
Jason Patterson run for 6 yds for a TD (Jacob Kauwe KICK)
Dontae McMillan run for 14 yds to the EMU 39 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass complete to Jamarien Wheeler for 9 yds to the EMU 48
Noah Kim pass complete to Jamarien Wheeler for 10 yds to the UK 42 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Jamarien Wheeler
Noah Kim pass complete to Antonio Floyd for 6 yds to the UK 36
Noah Kim pass complete to Ben Prosper for 14 yds to the UK 22 for a 1ST down
PENALTY EMU Illegal Snap (Gallegos,Nicholas) 5 yards from UK22 to UK27. NO PLAY.
Dontae McMillan run for 8 yds to the UK 19
Dontae McMillan run for 11 yds to the UK 8 for a 1ST down
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Nick Devereaux
Dontae McMillan run for 3 yds to the UK 5
Noah Kim pass incomplete to Antonio Floyd
Noah Kim run for 5 yds for a TD (Rudy Kessinger KICK)
Nathan Dibert kickoff for 53 yds , Kendrick Law return for 13 yds to the UK 25
Jason Patterson run for 29 yds to the EMU 46 for a 1ST down
Jason Patterson run for 7 yds to the EMU 39