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Defense helps No. 20 Kentucky outlast Middle Tennessee 34-23
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Mike Edwards' early takeaways helped stake Kentucky to its initial lead. Linebacker Josh Allen then made sure the 20th-ranked Wildcats held on with clutch sacks late.
Seniors are expected to stand out in their home finales, and veterans certainly factored in a tenser-than-expected victory against Middle Tennessee.
Edwards' two turnovers led to Kentucky's first two touchdowns, and the Wildcats overcame a second-half lull to make several fourth-quarter defensive stops and escape with a 34-23 win on Saturday.
Kentucky (8-3) ended a two-game slide but had to survive the Blue Raiders' rally within 31-23 early in the fourth. Allen, the Southeastern Conference's sacks leader, dropped Brent Stockstill for a 7-yard loss on fourth down and set up Miles Butler's 32-yard field goal with 4:01 remaining for an 11-point edge.
A defensive facemask penalty helped the Blue Raiders (7-4) reach the Kentucky 5-yard line in the final minute before consecutive sacks of Stockstill by Allen and Jamar Watson totaling 16 yards ended their final chance. Allen had a career-high 15 tackles and two of Kentucky's seven sacks to become the Wildcats' single-season (13) and career sacks leader (27.5).
''I can't thank the linemen enough for doing their jobs and allowing me to have opportunities to make plays like that,'' Allen said.
Edwards provided the initial defensive boost by returning an interception 66 yards for a TD 1:27 into the game. Then he stripped Zack Dobson of the ball on MTSU's next drive to set up Benny Snell Jr. for the first of his two TDs and a 31-10 cushion that Kentucky eventually needed to earn its eighth victory, its most in the regular season since 1984. The 2007 squad earned its eighth win in the Music City Bowl.
''I'm pleased to get the eighth victory, but (it was) definitely not easy,'' Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. ''We knew it was going to be a tough, hard-fought game and they kind of beat us at our game. They kept the ball, possessed the ball the entire game and it kind of got a little aggravating.''
Fortunately for Kentucky, seniors saved the game on a day when 16 of them were honored. And the contributions weren't limited to defense.
Tight end C.J. Conrad caught an 11-yard, second-quarter scoring pass from Terry Wilson on a play that seemed destined for a big loss of yardage. Wilson spun away from the pressure before rolling left and threading an off-balance pass through several defenders to Conrad in the back of the end zone for a 24-7 lead.
Stockstill completed 30 of 33 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns and Chaton rushed for 98 yards and two scores. But those turnovers forced MTSU to play catch-up as its four-game winning streak ended.
''We didn't flinch,'' MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. ''With six or seven minutes left in the game we made it a one-score game, and we couldn't finish it off.''
EMOTIONAL DEBUT
Suiting up would've been rewarding enough for Kentucky sophomore defensive end Josh Paschal, who hadn't played this season while undergoing treatment for a malignant melanoma on the bottom of his foot. Paschal went on to record his first tackle with a third-down stop in the second quarter.
''It felt good just to wipe some dust off, it's been a while,'' said Paschal, who underwent three surgeries and is undergoing immunotherapy every four weeks.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Kentucky needed this win and should stay in the AP Top 25.
THE TAKEAWAY
Middle Tennessee: The Blue Raiders outgained Kentucky 392 yards to 324 and seemed poised to tie the game late, but couldn't break through deep in Wildcats territory. Those turnovers on their first two possessions dug a quick hole they couldn't quite escape. Stockstill became the NCAA's 25th player to reach 100 career TDs.
Kentucky: The Wildcats needed a lift, though it was tense. They finally surpassed 20 points for the first time since beating South Carolina 24-10 on Sept. 29. The offense and defense stalled, before Allen came up with stops that sealed the win.
UP NEXT
Middle Tennessee hosts UAB on Saturday in a matchup against Conference USA's West leader.
Kentucky visits Louisville on Saturday night in search of a nine-win season and second rivalry win in three seasons.
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Copyright 2018 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 24 | 15 |
Rushing | 8 | 10 |
Passing | 14 | 5 |
Penalty | 2 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 4-12 | 4-10 |
4th Down Conv | 2-4 | 0-1 |
Total Net Yards | 342 | 314 |
Total Plays | 71 | 54 |
Avg Gain | 4.8 | 5.8 |
Net Yards Rushing | 99 | 203 |
Rush Attempts | 38 | 40 |
Avg Rush Yards | 2.6 | 5.1 |
Net Yards Passing | 243 | 111 |
Comp. - Att. | 30-33 | 10-14 |
Yards Per Pass | 7.4 | 7.9 |
Sacked - Yards Lost | 7-50 | 1-10 |
Penalties - Yards | 6-57 | 6-51 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 4 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 2 |
Passing TDs | 3 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 1 |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 2-1 | 2-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 2-32.0 | 2-33.5 |
Return Yards | 4 | 152 |
Punts - Returns | 1-4 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 4-86 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-66 |
Kicking | 3/4 | 6/6 |
Extra Points | 2/3 | 4/4 |
Field Goals | 1/1 | 2/2 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
B. Stockstill 12 QB
|
B. Stockstill | 30/33 | 293 | 3 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Mobley 44 RB
|
C. Mobley | 19 | 98 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. West 1 RB
|
T. West | 5 | 25 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Dobson 24 WR
|
Z. Dobson | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Thomas 21 RB
|
T. Thomas | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Stockstill 12 QB
|
B. Stockstill | 12 | -30 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
T. Lee 8 WR
|
T. Lee | 7 | 85 | 1 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Mobley 44 RB
|
C. Mobley | 5 | 62 | 1 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Dobson 24 WR
|
Z. Dobson | 2 | 46 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Smith 37 WR
|
P. Smith | 6 | 38 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Thomas 21 RB
|
T. Thomas | 7 | 31 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Casey 87 WR
|
G. Casey | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. West 1 RB
|
T. West | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Upton 9 WR
|
I. Upton | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
W. Bush 23 S
|
W. Bush | 9-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Blankenship 12 S
|
R. Blankenship | 8-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Thomas 20 LB
|
D. Thomas | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Harris 30 LB
|
D. Harris | 4-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Liggins 85 DE
|
D. Liggins | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Brooks 6 LB
|
K. Brooks | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Render 94 DE
|
T. Render | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Stamps 2 CB
|
C. Stamps | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Collins 96 DL
|
R. Collins | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Poydras 90 DT
|
R. Poydras | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones 43 DE
|
J. Jones | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Manciel 93 DT
|
M. Manciel | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Gladney 38 S
|
K. Gladney | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ferguson 91 DT
|
J. Ferguson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Philpots 95 DE
|
T. Philpots | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. Holt 18 K
|
C. Holt | 1/1 | 33 | 2/3 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Bonadies 99 P
|
M. Bonadies | 2 | 32.0 | 1 | 34 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Lee 8 WR
|
T. Lee | 1 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
T. Wilson 3 QB
|
T. Wilson | 10/14 | 121 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
B. Snell 26 RB
|
B. Snell | 26 | 116 | 2 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Rose 10 RB
|
A. Rose | 7 | 48 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Wilson 3 QB
|
T. Wilson | 5 | 27 | 0 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Bowden 1 WR
|
L. Bowden | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Conrad 87 TE
|
C. Conrad | 4 | 51 | 1 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Rigg 83 TE
|
J. Rigg | 1 | 29 | 0 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Epps 81 WR
|
I. Epps | 3 | 24 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Bowden 1 WR
|
L. Bowden | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Richardson 11 WR
|
T. Richardson | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Hughes 13 WR
|
Z. Hughes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
M. Edwards 7 S
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M. Edwards | 10-2 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Allen 41 LB
|
J. Allen | 10-4 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. West 25 S
|
D. West | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ka. Daniel 56 LB
|
Ka. Daniel | 6-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Robinson 9 S
|
D. Robinson | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones 34 LB
|
J. Jones | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Baity 8 CB
|
D. Baity | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Westry 21 CB
|
C. Westry | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Square 43 LB
|
D. Square | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Taylor 91 DE
|
C. Taylor | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Middleton 99 DT
|
A. Middleton | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Hoskins 92 DL
|
P. Hoskins | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Watson 31 LB
|
J. Watson | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Bohanna 95 NT
|
Q. Bohanna | 1-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Johnson 6 CB
|
L. Johnson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Paschal 4 DL
|
J. Paschal | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Looney 59 DT
|
K. Looney | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Oats 22 LB
|
C. Oats | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Carter 90 DE
|
T. Carter | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. Butler 95 K
|
M. Butler | 2/2 | 38 | 4/4 | 10 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Duffy 93 P
|
M. Duffy | 2 | 33.5 | 0 | 47 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
L. Bowden 1 WR
|
L. Bowden | 4 | 21.5 | 27 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | UK 35 | 0:53 | 5 | 63 | INT |
13:33 | UK 35 | 0:43 | 5 | 15 | Fumble |
8:36 | UK 35 | 1:04 | 5 | -5 | Punt |
1:40 | UK 35 | 1:34 | 13 | 75 | TD |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
8:40 | UK 35 | 4:33 | 10 | 36 | Punt |
2:39 | UK 35 | 1:25 | 5 | 19 | FG |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
10:30 | UK 35 | 5:50 | 12 | 75 | TD |
3:30 | MTSU 20 | 3:17 | 13 | 80 | TD |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:37 | UK 41 | 1:17 | 4 | -20 | Downs |
4:02 | UK 35 | 3:15 | 14 | 76 | Downs |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:18 | MTSU 50 | 3:37 | 8 | 50 | TD |
6:58 | UK 46 | 4:38 | 9 | 34 | FG |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:20 | MTSU 35 | 2:30 | 8 | 75 | TD |
3:30 | UK 9 | 0:45 | 3 | 6 | Punt |
1:08 | MTSU 35 | 0:17 | 4 | 5 | Halftime |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
0:13 | MTSU 35 | 0:00 | 10 | 83 | TD |
4:32 | MTSU 35 | 0:47 | 4 | -13 | Punt |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:18 | MTSU 35 | 1:23 | 5 | 6 | Downs |
9:36 | UK 39 | 5:24 | 10 | 47 | FG |
0:25 | UK 21 | 0:00 | 1 | 0 |