(WKYT) – Kentucky goes into Aggieland and handles the 9th ranked team in the nation, beating Texas A&M 31-21 for its first ranked and SEC win of the season.
Kenny Minchey had his best performance of the season, going 14-18 for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns. DJ Miller had 5 catches for 96 yards. Kenny Darby had 2 catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. CJ Baxter rushed for two touchdowns.
Kentucky’s defense, led by former A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, forced four Texas A&M turnovers.
Kentucky’s defense had a great start to this game, similarly to last week, Texas A&M drove down the field on its first drive but was stopped on 4th and 1 at the UK 11 as Same Greene made the tackle in the backfield to give the ball to the Cats.
On the next Aggies drive, Greene made his mark again. Greene pretends to rush but drops back in coverage and picks off A&M quarterback Marcel Reed.
The Cats looked to take advantage of the momentum but costly mistakes kept Kentucky from striking first. On 2nd and 3 near the redzone, Minchey finds Kenny Darby wide open for what would have been a touchdown but he drops it. That would eventually lead to a UK field goal attempt but Adam Zouagui misses, leaving the Cats with no points.
The Aggies would go on a 14-play, 79-yard drive to score the first points of the game with a Carsyn Baker 2-yard run.
Kentucky didn’t waiver and responded with a touchdown drive of its own. Minchey led a 6-play drive, highlighted by a 53 yard throw to DJ Miller. UK would score tow plays later on a play action pass to Henry Boyer to tie it up heading into halftime.
Last week, the Wildcats folded in the final two quarters. Not today. Kentucky drove down the field and immediately scored. Minchey found Darby wide open again but made it count this time, 42 yards to the house to give Kentucky a 14-7 lead. Kentucky would score on its next drive as well after a CJ Baxter 3-yard rush to put Kentucky up by two scores.
Texas A&M began to feel the pressure and got desperate. The Aggies go for it on 4th and 2 on their own 33-yard line and fail to convert. UK would score four plays later, giving the Cats a 21 point lead.
A&M began its 2-minute offense at the start of the 4th quarter, scoring on a Reed scramble after a 13 play drive. It felt as the Aggies were gaining momentum but the Wildcats responded with a 52-yard field goal from Zouagui.
Kentucky would go on to ice the game after Reed threw an interception to Jordan Castell with six minutes left.
Kentucky avenges its second half blunder, and avenges its 2018 overtime loss to the Aggies, getting its first SEC win of the season.
Kentucky returns home next weekend to face South Alabama at 12:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.