LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky took a 13-0 lead on Tennessee but the Volunteers scored the final points to win 17-13.
The Wildcats got on the board first after the opening kick. Lynn Bowden started at quarterback with he and A.J. Rose running the ball. UK went for it on 4th and 1 by bringing in Sawyer Smith to go for it on a quarterback keeper. UK wouldn't stop until they had gone 17 plays in 10:18 seconds. Rose finished off the drive from 2 yards out to put the Cats up 7-0. Bowden was 2-2 passing for 8 yards on the drive.
The Kentucky defense forced Tennessee to punt after three plays. Josh Pashchal blocked the punt and it was picked up by Drew Schlegel and the Wildcats were in business. Two plays later, Kavosiey Smoke would carry it 22 yards for the touchdown. Chance Poore's extra point was blocked but Kentucky was up 13-0. UK out gained Tennessee 112-3 in the first quarter and held the ball for 12:23 of the quarter.
Tennessee finally stopped UK and then started moving the ball on offense. The Volunteers put together an 11 play drive for 71 yards that ended with a Brent Cimaglia 24 yard field goal and the UK lead was down to 13-3.
Tennessee had a chance at the end of the half with a hail mary but Quandre Mosley knocked down the pass in the end zone. UK leading 13-3 at the break.
The Vols got the ball to start the second half and changed quarterbacks to Jarrett Guarantano. He marched Tennessee 75 yards in 7 plays and finished it off with a 17 yard pass to Marquez Callaway. The Kentucky lead was down to 13-10.
Tennessee stopped Kentucky and forced another punt. The Vols went on a 7 play, 68 yard drive. It ended with Guarantano's pass to Josh Palmer, who made a terrific catch by getting a foot down just before going out of bounds. Tennessee had its first lead of the game 17-13 with 6:28 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Kentucky started moving the ball again by some big runs from Chris Rodriguez. They were able to get it down to the Tennessee 32 but decided to go for it on 4th and 6. Lynn Bowden was sacked and the Vols took over on downs.
The 4th quarter started with Tennessee having a 3rd and 9 at its own 39 yard line. A pass was incomplete and UK took the punt and started a new drive at the 5 yard line. Bowden hit Josh Ali for a 12 yard gain. Rodriguez followed that up with 23 yard gain. A big penalty against the Cats backed them up to a 3rd and 14 but Bowden was hit late on a pass play and the drive stayed alive. Kentucky moved the ball but went for it on 4th down again and Bowden's pass fell away in the end zone.
Tennessee got the ball with 8:23 to go in the game. But the Vols fumbled it away on a hand off and UK's Marquan McCall fell on it at the UT 45 yard line with 7:44 to play.
UK moved it thanks to the run game deep into Tennessee territory. With 2:11 to play UK had it 3rd and goal from the 1. Chris Rodriguez was stopped with a one yard loss. Then on 4th and goal from the 2, UK Lynn Bowden ran the option and kept to come up short. Tennessee took over on downs with 1:17 to play.
The Volunteers ran out the clock to win 17-13. The Wildcats drop to 4-5 on the year, 2-5 in the SEC. Next up is a trip to Nashville to face Vanderbilt for a 3:30 start.
