LEXINGTON, Ky. — No. 21 Tennessee beat the Kentucky Wildcats in its fifth SEC matchup of the season on Saturday. The final score was 33-27 inside Kroger Field.
Tennessee won the toss and deferred it to the second half. On third and 15, Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary scrambled and was just short of a first down. The Vols did an excellent job at containing the Cat's offense on their first drive.
The Vols took over on the 30, and it only took a few plays for Jaylen Wright to score Tennessee's first touchdown of the night. His 52-yard rushing touchdown put the Vols up 7-0. This was Wright's second touchdown of the season.
On Kentucky's next drive, running back Ray Davis was short on fourth and one, which gave Tennessee great field position on the 34-yard-line. However, Joe Milton's shovel pass to Wright on third and 14 only led to a Charles Campbell 44-yard field goal, making the score 10-0.
Kentucky was driving on its next possession, but an Anthony Brown-Stephens 17-yard completion only led to a 27-yard field goal for the Cats, which cut into the Vols lead, 10-3.
After some nice runs by Wright and sophomore Dylan Sampson, the Vols were once again forced to bring Campbell back on the field. He made the 49-yard attempt, adding to Tennessee's lead, 13-3. This was Campbell's longest-made field goal of the year.
Barion Brown made a nice 33-yard catch for the Cats on their next drive but was brought down by Tennessee's Doneiko Slaughter. On third and nine, Kentucky got deeper into Tennessee territory with Leary's 17-yard completion to Dane Key. Brown found the endzone just two plays later to give the Cats their first touchdown of the night.
Tennessee was back with the ball, and Milton found Chas Nimrod for a wide-open 39-yard deep ball. This was Nimrod's first touchdown of his career, putting the Vols up 20-10.
It didn't take long for Kentucky to move the ball quickly down the field again. Tennessee could not contain Davis on this drive like they had been the majority of the first half. He rushed in for a seven-yard touchdown to keep the score close, 20-17.
Milton hit Ramel Keyton with a 17-yarder at the sideline but had little control of the ball after he stepped out. The play went under review and was eventually ruled complete. Campbell secured a few more points for the Vols before halftime, 23-17.
Tennessee started with the ball to open up the half. Milton was stopped short of a first down on third and two, and the Wildcats took over on the 30-yard-line.
Leary’s fourth-down pass was broken up by Tennessee’s Tamarion McDonald. The Vols started their next drive on their own 34-yard-line. Milton found Dont’e Thornton Jr. for an impressive 47-yard completion, but he got sacked for a loss of four on second and seven. Campbell then made his fourth field goal of the night, 26-17.
On second and five, Leary connects with Dane Key for a 34-yard gain, putting Kentucky in the red zone. Key found the endzone on third and three to make it a two-point game.
Milton was sacked once again on Tennessee’s next possession, forcing the Vols to punt the ball away. Kentucky’s passing performance was electric in the fourth quarter. Leary completed a nice 21-yard pass to Key, but it resulted in a missed 53-yard field goal by Alex Raynor.
A personal foul penalty on Aaron Beasley set the Vols back 15 yards on their next possession. Milton made a nice completion to Squirrel White to put the Vols across midfield, which eventually led to a Dylan Sampson touchdown to make the score 33-24.
Kentucky made a field goal with a little over four minutes left in the matchup. The final score of this one, 33-27.
Next up, the Vols are set to take on the University of Connecticut on Nov. 4. Game time starts at noon at Neyland Stadium.
