Welcome back Big Blue Faithful to my countdown of the Top 10 Kentucky Football Victories and Top 10 Kentucky Football Heartbreaking Losses. Being the 2nd day of the countdown I will be presenting you with the #9 game in both categories today. Enough of this chatter, let me get back to the countdown:
#9 Biggest Victory: Kentucky 39 #21 LSU 36 – October 17th, 1998 Tiger StadiumThe Wildcats came into this traditional Tiger Stadium night game contest with a respectable 4-2 record, including a 33-28 victory over SEC counterpart South Carolina 33-28 the week before in Lexington. LSU, with a preseason #7 ranking in the AP Poll, was 3-2 going into the game, including consecutive losses to Georgia and Florida in the two weeks prior, leading them to drop all the way down to #21 in the AP Poll the week of the Kentucky game. With LSU struggling in the previous two weeks the Wildcats had confidence that they could beat the Bayou Bengals down in Baton Rouge, a feat that UK had only accomplished 4 times in their previous 25 tries. Kentucky also had the revenge factor on their side as LSU dismantled the Wildcats 63-28 in Lexington in 1997.
Kentucky jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the 2nd quarter after a pair of short yardage rushing touchdowns by running back and do-it-all guy Anthony White. LSU responded with a 4 yard touchdown run by quarterback Herb Tyler. But, on the ensuing extra point, the Tigers had a bad snap and UK defensive back Eric Kelly recovered the ball and raced 73 yards for 2 points in Kentucky’s favor, extending their lead to 16-6. The Tigers responded again in the 2nd quarter with a 47 yard touchdown connection from Tyler to wide receiver Larry Foster and Kentucky went into the locker room at halftime with a 16-13 lead.
Hal Mumme must have made some great adjustments at halftime as the Wildcats came out firing on all cylinders, scoring 20 points in the 3rd quarter. Wide receiver Craig Yeast opened up the scoring for UK with a 15 yard touchdown reception from quarterback Tim Couch five minutes into the 3rd quarter. But, in an episode of deja vu all over again as Yankee great Yogi Berra would say, Kentucky’s extra point was blocked and LSU’s Mark Roman returned the block 88 yards for 2 points of their own and Kentucky led 22-15. The Tigers gained momentum when Herb Tyler and Larry Foster hooked up again for another long touchdown, this time 42 yards, less than a minute after the blocked kick and suddenly the game was tied at 22. But UK quickly deflated LSU’s momentum with two consecutive touchdowns themselves, a 5 yard touchdown strike from Couch to Yeast and then a 6 yard touchdown pass from Couch to tight end James Whalen with just 8 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. The Wildcats went into the 4th quarter with a commanding 14 point lead, 36-22.
But, just like the first three quarters of the game, LSU responded whenever UK seemed to be gaining momentum. The Tigers took control of the 4th quarter by scoring the first 14 points of the quarter. Both touchdowns were runs by quarterback Herb Tyler, 3 yards and 16 yards, and once again the game was tied at 36 with 5:25 left to go in the game. After a couple of unsuccessful drives by both teams, Kentucky had the ball on their own 26 yard line with 1:57 left to go in the game. Facing a difficult 3rd and 12, head coach Hal Mumme pulled out yet another play from his bag of tricks. Wide receiver Quentin McCord took a reverse handoff from Couch and used his speed to scamper 38 yards for a big first down and kept the drive alive. After a 14 yard pass from Couch to tight end Jimmy Haley and a 3 yard run by Anthony White, the Wildcats let the clock run all the way down to the final seconds and called a timeout. Out came sure-footed kicker Seth Hanson, attempting a 33-yard field goal to win the game on the final play. The snap and hold were good, and Seth kicked a line drive straight through the uprights and the Kentucky upset LSU 39-36.
Ironically, the last time UK had defeated a ranked team on the road was none other than LSU, a 33-13 victory in 1977. Wildcat quarterback Tim Couch cemented his Heisman Trophy candidacy status after a stellar performance, completing 37 of 50 passes for 391 yards and 3 touchdowns. The difference in the game came down to running the ball as UK outgained LSU 182 yards to 74 on the ground, including holding the Tigers star running back Kevin Faulk to just 67 yards on 20 carries. Kentucky went on to finish the season 7-5, including a berth in the Outback Bowl against Penn State. LSU could never pick themselves back up from the devastating loss, losing 4 of their last 5 games and ending the season with a disappointing 4-7 record.
#9 Heartbreaking Loss: Kentucky 31 #15 Tennessee 37 – November 27th, 2004 Neyland Stadium
This was the last game of the regular season for both schools in 2004. Kentucky entered the game with a disappointing 2-8 record, but they did have a dramatic 4th quarter comeback victory against Vanderbilt in their previous game 2 weeks prior to the annual border battle with the Volunteers. Tennessee’s record going into the game was the exact opposite as Kentucky, 8-2, and they had already clinched a berth into the SEC Championship game. Also add the fact that Kentucky had not defeated Tennessee since 1984 and things were not looking good for the Wildcats.
Kentucky scored on the opening drive of the game, a 45 yard field goal by kicker Taylor Begley, and the Wildcats had an early 3-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the game. Tennessee answered on the very next drive with a 1 yard touchdown run by quarterback Rick Clausen and the Volunteers were on top 7-3. The Wildcats then scored the game’s next 14 points. Quarterback Shane Boyd and tight end Jacob Tamme hooked up for a 20 yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter. Then Kentucky got some help on the defensive side of the ball when Ricky Abren intercepted a Clausen pass and returned it 6 yards for a touchdown and UK held a 17-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter. Tennessee responded with 9 straight points themselves. Running back Cory Anderson ran 22 yards for a score but Kentucky freshman kick blocker extraordinaire Lonnell Dewalt did what he was used to doing that entire season and blocked the extra point. Kicker James Wilhoit then added a 24 yard field goal and UK still held on to a 17-16 lead with less than 4 minutes left in the first half. The two teams then exchanged touchdowns late in the 2nd quarter.
Shane Boyd and Jacob Tamme connected yet again with a 16 yard touchdown pass with less than one minute left in the half. But Tennessee answered quickly with a 20 yard touchdown pass from Clausen to wide receiver Robert Meachem with only 6 seconds left in the half and the Wildcats went into the locker room with a 24-22 lead.
Kentucky opened up the scoring in the 2nd half with a short yardage touchdown run by quarterback Boyd and the Wildcats extended their lead to 31-22. Dewalt came to the rescue yet again when he blocked a field goal attempt by James Wilhoit, his second blocked kick of the game. Lonnell’s special teams presence influenced the game early in the 4th quarter. Tennessee, facing a 4th and 2 on the 8 yard line, elected to not kick a field goal and go for the first down and the Wildcat defense stepped up and stopped the Volunteers.
Unfortunately, Tennessee scored the game’s final 15 points as Kentucky’s offense became non-existent in the 4th quarter. The Wildcats’ first three possessions of the fourth quarter were a 3-and-out. After the first 3-and-out the Volunteers responded with a 12 yard touchdown pass from Clausen to wide receiver Tony Brown as Kentucky’s lead was cut to 31-29. After Kentucky’s second 3-and-out of the quarter their defense stepped up yet again as safety Karl Booker intercepted a Rick Clausen pass. But Kentucky couldn’t gain any momentum with the turnover as they had yet another 3-and-out. Tennessee got the ball with less than 5 minutes left in the game, losing 31-29, and marched the ball down the field methodically. Then, facing a 3rd and 2 from the 12 yard line, running back Gerald Riggs took the handoff from Rick Clausen and ran right up the middle for a go-ahead touchdown with only 38 seconds remaining in the game. Running back Cedric Houston converted on a 2-point conversion and Tennessee led 37-31 with only half a minute to go. Kentucky’s chances for a thrilling comeback was cut short as Shane Boyd’s pass was picked off by Corey Campbell on 4th and 10.
To be honest, Kentucky had no business being in this game. The Wildcats, although having two timely interceptions, allowed a whopping 606 yards of total offense to the Volunteers, including 204 yards on the ground. But, Kentucky stuck around the entire game and let the lead slip away in the final minute of the 4th quarter in heartbreaking fashion. Wide receiver Scott Mitchell was one of the few bright spots for the Kentucky offense with 111 receiving yards on 9 receptions. Kentucky ended the season with a 2-9 record while the Volunteers finished with a 10-3 record.
Check back in tomorrow for the #8 biggest victory and heartbreaking loss. Here is a link to the #10 biggest victory and heartbreaking loss if you haven’t yet read it:
The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #10
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