By LARRY VAUGHT

He admitted he probably did push off a little bit in the end zone, but he didn’t apologize for it.
“We had been setting that play up the whole game. I was waiting for that and we finally got it. I pushed a little bit, but you have to do what you have to do to make a play,” said Kentucky receiver Chris Matthews about his 18-yard touchdown catch.
Matthews had a career-high seven receptions for 56 yards in Saturday’s 37-12 victory over Eastern Kentucky here.
He was expected to be a solid component to go with receiver Randall Cobb this season. Instead, even though he had made some big plays, he struggled with his consistency running routes and being in the right spots. While his blocking was more than adequate, other parts of his game frustrated him, teammates and UK coaches.
“I believe next year is when you will see the real Chris Matthews. I am starting to realize it takes time to get it all down. Just because you think you know something, you don’t know everything. I would think next year will see a new side of Chris Matthews,” the junior said.
“Right now I am not playing to the best of my abilities just for simple fact that I do not know every play and I can’t go full speed on every play because if I do I might mess up. Coach says if you are going  to mess up, mess up 100 percent.
“I have been trying to do that but it’s hard to even go 100 percent if you are not sure what you are doing. Once I get everything down pat there will be a whole other side of Chris Matthews to show.”
Kentucky coach Rich Brooks hopes this might be the start of a big finish for Matthews, a junior college transfer from Los Angeles.
“I think he did some good things. He picked up some yards after the catch as well,” Brooks said. “I thought the throw into the end zone on a double move that he caught the touchdown on was very pleasing to see Morgan (Newton) put ball up where he could make a play. The corner was still there and that is the kind of play we would like to see him make on a more regular  basis.”
Matthews says freshman La’Rod King of North Hardin, who had a career highs with four catches for 41 yards Saturday, has helped him more than anyone with his transition to Southeastern Conference football even though King is a newcomer, too.
“He can pick up on something so fast. I just feel like we just went over it and I forgot it and he’s telling me all this stuff,” King said. “When we first came out and met we just hit it. We have studied together.
“In camp, we didn’t room together. I roomed with Randall Cobb and he roomed with Kyrus Lanxter. We would  just meet up between practices or late at night when we got a chance to sneak out of the dorms. He has helped me a lot and hopefully I have helped him a lot, too. But I think he’s been a lot more help to me with plays and stuff than I have been to him.”

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