LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Josh Clemons scored on an 87-yard run, and Morgan Newton ran in a fourth-quarter touchdown to seal Kentucky's 27-13 comeback win over Central Michigan on Saturday.
On Clemons' score, he ran inside and bounced off a tackler before he sprinted down the right sideline. His touchdown run became the longest in school history for a freshman, and the longest for a UK player of any class since Bernie Scruggs ran for 88 yards on Oct. 24, 1970.
Central Michigan controlled the first half, leading 13-6 at halftime. The Chippewas had outgained Kentucky, 227 yards to 94, and controlled possession for just over 19 minutes in the first two quarters. They took a 3-0 lead early on a 19-yard field goal by David Harman and Kentucky answered on the next possession with a 45-yard Craig McIntosh field goal.
With 1:19 left in the first quarter, Central Michigan scored its only touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Ryan Radcliff to Jerry Harris. Harman hit a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Chippewas their biggest lead. They did not score for the rest of the game.
The Wildcats' offense had opportunities in the first half but never came away with more than a field goal. UK linebacker Danny Trevathan intercepted Radcliff and returned it 28 yards to the Central Michigan 11-yard line. With 1st and 10, Kentucky went three-and-out, and McIntosh missed a 24-yard field-goal attempt off the right upright.
But in the third quarter, Newton woke up the offense. He led a drive that ended in a 34-yard touchdown pass to La'Rod King with 4:07 left to tie the game at 13.
Clemons' touchdown run gave the Wildcats (2-0) their first lead of the game in the third quarter. He became the first Wildcats freshman to record a 100-yard rushing game since Arliss Beach in 2002.
Newton added a 1-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-goal play to give the Wildcats a two-possession lead in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Radcliff threw for 295 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Chippewas (1-1).
