Kentucky’s defense was rock solid as the ninth-ranked Wildcats knocked off previously unbeaten 1AA power Youngstown State, 31-0, at Kroger Field on Saturday afternoon. 

It was the Wildcats, now 3-0, first shutout since beating Miami, 42-0, on Sept. 5, 2009. 

Quarterback Will Levis completed 27-of-35 passes for 377 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was picked off twice. Receiver Dane Key hauled in six catches for 90 yards and one score. Levis added a rushing touchdown. 

Running back Kavosiey Smoke carried 18 times for 66 yards and a score.  

After a scoreless opening quarter, Kentucky got on the board first as Levis scored on a keeper inside the one-yard line to make it 7-0 with 13:34 left. 

The Wildcats extended their lead to 14-0 on Levis’ three-yard TD pass to Dane Key with 6:10 remaining in the half. 

Kentucky extended its lead to 21-0 at the break as Levis tossed a two-yard pass to Chris Lewis with 20 seconds to play. 

Running back Kavosiey Smoke’s seven yard run with 8:36 to go in the third period pushed the UK lead to 28-0. 

Make Ruffalo’s 28-yard goal capped the scoring. 

The Wildcats will host Northern Illinios (1-1) on Sept. 24. Kickoff is set for 7 pm. 

At Lexington 

SCORE BY QUARTERS: 

YS (2-0).….0 0 0 0 – 0 

UK (2-0)….0 21 7 3 – 31 

Scoring: 

First Quarter 

No scoring 

Second Quarter 

UK – Will Levis, 1-yard run (Matt Ruffalo kick), 13:34 

UK – Dane Key, 3-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffalo kick), 6:10  

UK – Chris Lewis, 2-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffalo kick), :20 

Third Quarter 

UK – Kavosiey Smoke, 7-yard run (Matt Ruffalo kick), 8:36 

Fourth Quarter 

UK – Matt Ruffalo, 28-yard field goal, 4:54 

Next up: Kentucky (3-0) vs. Northern Illinois (1-1), 7 pm, Sept. 24