Kentucky’s strength all season has been the run. Entering Saturday’s game against Alabama football, the Wildcats were going to rely on running back Ray Davis if they were to have a chance at the upset.

It wasn’t to be. Davis scores two touchdowns, but they were both from close range. He finished with 26 of Kentucky’s 116 sack-adjusted rushing yards in the 49-21 loss.

After his team’s win, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said controlling the line of scrimmage was huge.

“I think that was the key to the drill,” Saban said. “Controlling the line of scrimmage in this game, against this type of team, who prides themselves for being a physical team, I think was our number one objective.”

The Tide ended the game with nine tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe had two, and he and his teammates on the line held firm against the UK rushing attack.

Eboigbe said after the game that stopping that element of the Wildcats’ game was part of being a UA player.

“Anybody knows, you’re coming to Alabama, you stop the run,” Eboigbe said. “Being a D-lineman, being a linebacker, being anybody that plays defense. Safety that plays the run fits. Being able to stop the run is pivotal, so making them one-dimensional is key.”

Alabama wanted to force the Wildcats to use quarterback Devin Leary’s arm. They succeeded in that area, with UK throwing 31 passes compared to just 24 rushing attempts.

Part of that was due to jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Difficult to run a clock-killing offensive attack when you might need every second to manage a comeback attempt.

But the other part was the domination of the line of scrimmage that the Crimson Tide showed, both offensively and defensively. Leary was forced into the passing game more than UK coach Mark Stoops and company would have preferred, and was sacked three times in the process.

Kentucky wasn’t particularly effective throwing the ball, with Leary completing 17 of 31 pass attempts for 158 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

“We wanted to make them one-dimensional,” Saban said. “I think we did, except for the last run where we didn’t have any run support on that side. But I think it was really important that we win on the line of scrimmage, on both sides.”

Alabama will be back in action next Saturday against Chattanooga at Bryant-Denny Stadium.