An injury to the Kentucky Wildcats with 44 seconds left forced a 10-second runoff and allowed Tennessee Football to run the clock out after a third down play to hold on for a 33-27 win Saturday night. It was the Vols’ first road win of the year and by far their most impressive since beating Kentucky two years ago.
Joe Milton III had what was easily his most efficient game as a quarterback, and UT’s running backs dominated, with two ball carriers going for over 100 yards from scrimmage. Josh Heupel’s team jumped out to a 10-0 lead and held on the rest of the way, despite the game being within one possession entering the fourth.
For his part, Milton finished 17-of-20 for 227 yards and a touchdown with no picks, a second straight solid performance coming off a 34-20 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. He came away victorious at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky., in a tough duel with UK quarterback Devin Leary, who finished 28-of-39 for 373 yards, two TDs and no picks..
After Tennessee Football forced a three-and-out on the opening drive, Jaylen Wright scored first for the Vols with a 52-yard touchdown drive. The Vols then stopped Kentucky on a fourth down to get a field goal and go up 10-0. However, after the two teams exchanged field goals, Kentucky cut the lead to 13-10 with a TD drive.
A touchdown pass from Milton to Chas Nimrod expanded the lead to 20-10, but Kentucky scored a touchdown to cut it to 20-17. Milton led a two-minute field goal drive to end the half and give the Vols a 23-17 lead with them set to get the ball to start the third quarter.
In that quarter, Campbell hit a field goal, but Leary threw his second touchdown pass of the game to cut the lead to 26-24. However, Milton and the Vols responded with a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, largely led by Dylan Sampson, to go up 33-24. UK then hit a field goal,
While Milton led the way offensively, Dont’e Thornton led the team in receiving with three catches for 63 yards. Wright had 11 carries for 120 yards, leading the way on the ground, and Sampson added 114 total yards from scrimmage with another touchdown. Milton also ran for 25 yards and had a key first down run on third down with under two minutes to go.
With this win, Tennessee Football improves to 6-2 and 3-2 in SEC play. They will host the UConn Huskies next week. Kentucky falls to 5-3 and 2-3 in the SEC with a trip to the Mississippi State Bulldogs set for next week. This extends their losing streak to three straight.
