(WKYT) – The Kentucky Wildcats late game heroics took centerstage once again as No.15 Kentucky used a 14-0 4th quarter performance to win its 5th straight game and become bowl eligible.
UK safety Jordan Castell had a 41-yard pick six to put Kentucky up by eight with 2:00 left in the game.
Kentucky is now tied for first place in the SEC and has won three straight SEC road games.
Kenny Minchey went 21-28 for 158 yards and tow touchdowns. Willie Rodriguez had 5 catches for 28 yards and two touchdowns. The Kentucky defense had five sacks and four interceptions.
Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC) received the ball first and opened the with one of its more surgical drives of the season. The Cats would drive down the field and be faced with a 4th and 1 at the OU 23. The Cats would hand it off to Mikkel Skinner for a 16 yard gain that set up the first score.
On 3rd and goal, Minchey rolls out and finds Willie Rodriguez for the opening drive touchdown to put Kentucky up 7-0.
Oklahoma would score a field goal on its first drive of the game and would have a chance to make it a one point game at the beginning of the second quarter. But the Sooners attempted a fake field goal with the holder attempting a pass but its picked off by Jordan Castell in the endzone.
It was a slow paced first half, with neither team able to generate many points on the board but the Sooners were able to take the lead right before halftime after John Mateer finds Rocky Beers for a touchdown to cap off a 12 play drive to take a 10-7 lead into the break.
Neither team could get on the scoreboard to kickoff the second half. The Sooners would add another field goal in their second drive, a 26-yard fg to increase its lead to six.
Kentucky’s offense struggled to get down field against the Sooners defense, only totaling 21 yards in the third quarter, but the Cats caught a break at the end of the quarter when Ty Bryant intercepted the ball and set Kentucky up at the Oklahoma 45 yard line.
Kentucky started the 4th quarter with its first efficient drive of the half that resulted in the Wildcats regaining the lead after Minchey finds Rodriguez for the second time of the night, a 12-yard catch, putting UK up 14-13.
Kentucky’s defense would respond, forcing a 3-and-out with all three plays resulting in negative yardage. The Wildcats would drive down the field again but this time be faced with a 4th and 4 at the six yard line.
Kentucky went for it, instead of taking the points but Minchey was sacked, giving the Sooners back the ball. The defense was able to force another 3-and-out to get the ball back with 5:22 left in the game.
the Kentucky defense played the quarter of its life in the final frame. Oklahoma would have the ball with two minutes left before Mateer would throw a pick six to Jordan Castell who took back 41 yards to the house put Kentucky up 21-13.
Oklahoma would have one more shot but Mateer is picked off by Ty Bryant again and Kentucky would escape Norman with the win.
The Wildcats return home next Saturday when Kentucky takes on Vanderbilt at 7:30 on the SEC Network.