December 9 - The University of Kentucky claimed the Division I-AA national championship Saturday at SaberCat Stadium in Houston, TX, beating in-state rival Louisville, 43-28. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead, thanks to indiscipline and untimely miscues from Louisville. The Cardinals mounted a late comeback effort, but the early hole proved too deep to climb out of.
Kentucky openside flanker Holden Hahn was awarded the MVP award for his barnstorming runs, work rate in the breakdown and tireless tackling.
The Wildcats poured in four unanswered tries in the first half, taking a 26-0 lead into the shed. The Cardinals looked poised to answer Kentucky’s opening try, but flyhalf Aaron Stevenson’s skip pass was intercepted by Wildcat wing Joe Keough, who raced 80 meters for a backbreaking try.
William Meckauskas dotted down UK’s third score off a pick-and-go, and the Wildcat pack punched in the fourth after Louisville hooker Angelo Eklou was was sent to the sin bin for playing the ball from an offside position. Kentucky opted for a scrum, and tighthead prop Jared Monnier dove over a couple of phases later.
The second half didn’t start any better for Louisville, as the Cards conceded a second yellow card and a penalty try. Flyhalf Jack Phillips dribbled a kick to himself for Kentucky’s fifth try, putting the Wildcats up 40-0.
Stevenson then drew first blood for Louisville, catching an offload from outside center Connor Hayes. Scrumhalf Cameron Donlon and Eklou also crossed the whitewash in the second half, separated only by a Phillips penalty, but never came within two scores of Kentucky.
The win marks Kentucky’s first national title in program history. For the Cardinals, the loss is the second-straight in the national championship final.
