LEXINGTON, Ky- Kentucky needed a spark through the air and they got it just a few plays into the game. Lynn Bowden took a backward screen pass and weaved his way through traffic for 45 yards. Three minutes in and Kentucky had already racked up more yards in the air than the entire previous matchup against Vanderbilt. Bowden was great in the first half, piling up 84 yards on five catches.
Kentucky put up points on the board first with a field goal, but Missouri responded with a long drive at the end of quarter number one. The Tigers covered 73 yards in 10 plays, which was capped off by a two yard touchdown run from Damar Crockett.
Kentucky had fourth and short opportunities near mid field twice, and both times Benny Snell was stopped short of the sticks. Missouri was stuffing the box the entire first half and Snell couldn’t find any room to run (8 carries, 16 yards).
Late in the second quarter Missouri had their own chance on fourth and one, but Kentucky didn’t even give themselves a chance to stop the play as Marquan McCall jumped offsides. Missouri would make them pay just a few plays later when Larry Rountree ran it in from one yard out to give Missouri the 14-3 halftime lead over Kentucky.
