On first road game, Kentucky spoils Mississippi’s homecoming, stunning #6 with 20-17 victory

By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today

Kentucky spoiled Mississippi’s homecoming festivities Saturday.

In their first road game of the season, the Wildcats (3-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) defeated sixth-ranked Ole Miss 20-17 in Oxford for the first time since 1978.

“I could not be more proud of our team,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “We played it our way. . .It was our kind of game. A dirty, ugly, hard-fought game. We went out and did what we had to do. We played our way. I know it’s only one game, but it was a very important game for us. Obviously, I could not be more proud of this team.”

Kentucky had lost its previous three games to Ole Miss (4-1, 0-2) by a combined margin of 10 points, including a 22-19 setback two years ago in Oxford.

It was a different ending this time around.

“It just felt really good to come down here and finish what we didn’t get to finish two years ago,” Kentucky receiver Dane Key said.

Ole Miss, which scored a school-record 220 points and amassed 600 yards or more in its first four games of the season, managed just 353 total yards – just 17 more than the Wildcats. Kentucky slowed the high-scoring Ole Miss’ offense with an impressive defensive performance and by controlling the clock for more than 39 minutes.

Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff threw for 243 yards and one touchdown, including a 63-yard pass to Barion Brown on a fourth-and-7 pass play from the UK 20 that set up the decisive touchdown. Josh Kattus prevented a potential disaster in the end zone when he recovered backup signa- caller Gavin Wimsatt’s fumble near the goal line with 2:25 remaining.

Stoops praised the play by Brown under the circumstances and converting a crucial fourth down.

“I felt like they were going to be very aggressive and we’d get a one-on-one,” he said. “Barion made a great play.”

Ole Miss missed a potential game-tying 48-yard field goal with 48 seconds remaining, giving Kentucky its biggest road win over a ranked opponent since 1977. The Wildcats snapped the Rebels’ seven-game winning streak.

Key and Brown hauled in 13 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown. Key caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Vandagriff in the second quarter that gave the Wildcats a 10-7 advantage at the break.
Kentucky’s defensive unit forced a turnover and limited the Rebels to just one third-down conversion on 10 attempts. The Wildcats also collected four sacks for a loss of 19 yards. JQ Hardaway had 11 tackles and forced the lone turnover of the game.

“Beyond disappointing. It’s a disappointing day,” Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin said. “The game comes down at the end with us having a chance to win in every phase and we didn’t do it. Got to give credit to Stoops.”

Gametracker: Vandy at Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 12, TBA.

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