With only one week left until the Kentucky Wildcats kickoff their 2010 season with their annual intra-state battle with Louisville, we are right near the top of my countdown of my Top 10 Kentucky Football Biggest Victories and Top 10 Kentucky Football Heartbreaking Losses of the past 25 seasons. Today I will be looking back on the #2 games on my countdown so take a trip down memory lane with me:
#2 Biggest Victory: Kentucky 40 #20 Alabama 34 (Overtime) – October 4th, 1997 Commonwealth Stadium
It was head coach Hal Mumme’s first season at Kentucky and his “Air Raid” offense was in full swing going into the Alabama game. The Wildcats had a .500 record of 2-2 going into the game, having averaged 35.5 points per game in their first four games, but lost to #1 Florida 55-28 the week before. Alabama was 3-1 going into Commonwealth Stadium, defeating #19 Southern Mississippi 27-13 in the previous week. But the Crimson Tide literally owned the series against Kentucky going into the season. Alabama led the series 31-1-1 against Kentucky coming into 1997, with Kentucky’s only win coming 75 years earlier in 1922 and their only tie 58 years ago in 1939. Alabama won the previous 14 meetings in the series by a combined score of 371-68, shutting out Kentucky in 8 of those 14 contests. The Crimson Tide defeated the Wildcats 35-7 in Tuscaloosa just the season before.
Kentucky got the first score of the game when the Wildcats drove the ball down to the Crimson Tide 13 yard line before having to settle for a 30-yard field goal by kicker Seth Hanson and the Wildcats had the first lead of the game at 3-0 in the first quarter. Then a football version of pong began on the field as the teams continued to go back and forth, exchanging scores. Alabama answered Kentucky’s first score with a dazzling 58 yard touchdown run by running back Curtis Alexander and Alabama took their first lead at 7-3 in the first quarter. But Kentucky had a spectacular play of their own. Quarterback Tim Couch threw a flare pass to running back Derek Homer and Homer did the rest. He did a jump step, broke a couple tackles, reversed field, and rumbled 62 yards to the endzone as Kentucky regained the lead at 10-7 with three minutes left in the first quarter. The score remained 10-7 going into the second quarter.
It took awhile, but Alabama counterpunched Kentucky’s electrifying play late in the second quarter. Wide receiver Chad Goss made a nice one-handed catch on an off-target pass from quarterback Freddie Kitchens and raced 34 yards to the house and Alabama regained the lead at 14-10 with a minute and a half left in the first half. But Kentucky’s offense moved the ball down the field quickly, almost second nature to the fans now, and got down to the Crimson Tide 13 yard line before having to settle for another 30-yard field goal by Hanson and Alabama’s lead was cut to 14-13 just before the end of the second quarter. The score stayed at 14-13 when both teams headed to the locker room at halftime.
Alabama opened up the scoring in the second half when the Crimson Tide moved the ball down to Kentucky’s 24 yard line before successfully making a 41-yard field goal by kicker Brian Cunningham and Alabama extended their lead to 17-13. But the Wildcats responded and responded well by scoring the next 14 points in the game. The first score came on a 6 yard touchdown pass from Tim Couch to do-everything running back Anthony White. The second score came when, facing a corner blitz, Couch heaved the ball towards the right corner of the endzone and wide receiver Kevin Coleman hauled in the 14 yard touchdown pass and Kentucky’s lead grew to 27-17, their biggest lead of the game, with five minutes left in the third quarter. The Crimson Tide killed Kentucky’s momentum when they scored the next 14 points of the game themselves. The first score came with a little trickery when Goss took a reverse handoff and threw a pass to a wide open Quincy Jackson that went 40 yards for a touchdown. The third quarter ended with Kentucky’s lead cut to 27-24.
Alabama opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter after a Kentucky special teams blunder. Going to punt at the 50 yard line, long snapper Darrin Clark sailed the snap over punter Jimmy Carter’s head and the Crimson Tide recovered the ball at Kentucky’s 16 yard line. Alabama scored soon after on a 6 yard shovel pass from Kitchens to Alexander and the Crimson Tide regained the lead at 31-27 with thirteen and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter. With Kentucky’s pass-happy offense carrying the Wildcats through the first part of the season, it was special teams play that finally provided a spark. With seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats defense halted a Crimson Tide at Kentucky’s 27 yard line and Alabama went on to attempt a 44-yard field goal. But the kick never crossed the line of scrimmage when David Ginn had great penetration through Alabama’s line and blocked Cunningham’s attempt. The ball bounced perfectly into Anwar Stewart’s hands and he raced 68 yards untouched for a touchdown as Kentucky regained the lead at 34-31. But yet again Alabama answered a Kentucky score. Starting at their own 33 yard line the Crimson Tide went on a long, methodical drive. Facing a 4th and 3, Alabama handed the ball off to Kentucky native Shaun Alexander and he ran for 4 yards to keep their drive alive at Kentucky’s 30 yard line with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Alabama moved the ball down to the Wildcat 20 yard line before Cunningham made a 37-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 34. The exciting, high scoring, back and forth game went into overtime.
Kentucky won the toss in overtime but elected to go on defense first. After a holding penalty against the Crimson Tide on their first play, Alabama was pushed back to the 37 yard line. On the very next play Kitchens found an open Goss right down the middle of the field but strong safety Tremayne Martin hit Goss hard and he fumbled the ball. Jeremy Bowie recovered the fumble for the Wildcats as their offensive possession started at the 25 yard line. Couch threw an incomplete pass on first down. Then Couch found wide receiver Craig Yeast on a 1 yard screen pass, but a facemasking penalty against Alabama moved the ball forward to the 19 yard line. But, on the very next play, the Wildcats were called for a holding penalty and were pushed back to the 30 yard line. A 4 yard pass from Couch to tight end Darrin Clark moved the ball to the 26 yard line. Facing a 3rd and 11, Tim Couch threw a bullet to Craig Yeast at the 10 yard line, Yeast eluded a couple of Crimson Tide defenders, and he ran into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown.
The fans at Commonwealth Stadium then went into a frenzy. For the first time ever in the stadium’s history, the goalposts went down as they should’ve been as it marked a historical victory for the Wildcats. It was only Kentucky’s second victory against Alabama ever and their first win against the Crimson Tide in 75 years. Tim Couch lighted up the Cr
imson Tide defense, completing 32 of 49 passes for 355 yards and 4 touchdowns. Do-it-all running back Anthony White was an offensive star himself, rushing the ball 15 times for 117 yards and adding 6 receptions for 55 yards. Kentucky went 2-4 in their last 6 games of the season and finished 1997 with a 5-6 record. Alabama never rebounded from the loss as they went on to lose 5 of their last 6 games and ended the season with a 4-7 record.
#2 Heartbreaking Loss: Kentucky 30 #16 LSU 33 – November 9th, 2002 Commonwealth Stadium
Kentucky, after two straight 2-9 seasons in 2000 and 2001, had turned the tables around and enjoyed a successful start to the 2002 season. They were 6-3 going into the LSU game, including a 45-24 victory over Mississippi State down in Starkville the week before. LSU, the defending SEC Champions, were 6-2 going into the game, but had lost to Auburn 31-7 in their previous game two weeks prior to meeting Kentucky. The two schools had split their previous 10 meetings, but LSU won the last two meetings against Kentucky, 29-25 in 2001 and 34-0 in 2000.
The game started slow as there were three straight 3-and-outs and Kentucky started their second drive of the game at their own 2 yard line with ten minutes left in the first quarter. But the Wildcats offense woke up as they marched 98 yards in only 8 plays, including a 43 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Lorenzen to wide receiver Aaron Boone, as Kentucky took the first lead of the game at 7-0 with six minutes left in the first quarter. The Wildcats special teams helped out on LSU’s next drive. Facing a 4th and 4 on Kentucky’s 28 yard line, LSU head coach Nick Saban decided to try a 45-yard field goal. But kicker John Corbello’s attempt was blocked by Kentucky and recovered by safety Muhammad Abdullah as the Tigers walked away with no points on the drive. The score remained 7-0 going into the second quarter.
But LSU answered big on their very next drive. On their first drive of the second quarter, and facing a 3rd and 5 on their own 30 yard line, quarterback Marcus Randall completed a pass across the middle to wide receiver Devery Henderson and he raced 70 yards to the endzone and all of a sudden the game was tied at 7. The Tigers added to their lead in their last drive of the second quarter. Starting on their own 38 yard line with three and a half minutes left in the half, LSU marched the ball down the field in 11 plays and scored on another touchdown pass from Randall to Henderson, this time 30 yards, and LSU’s lead was extended to 14-7 with only five seconds left in the second quarter. The score remained 14-7 as the teams headed into the locker room at halftime.
The second half couldn’t have started any worse for Kentucky. On their opening offensive drive of the third quarter, the Wildcats went 3-and-out and punted the ball to LSU. On the Tigers first play from scrimmage after the punt, on their own 37 yard line, running back Joseph Addai swept to the left side of the field and raced 63 yards all the way to the house as LSU’s lead was now a commanding 21-7 with thirteen minutes left in the third quarter. Then, on Kentucky’s ensuing possession, sure-handed running back Artose Pinner fumbled the ball and LSU’s Lionel Turner recovered it on the LSU 24 yard line with twelve minutes left in the third quarter. But the Wildcats finally got a break, and it happened on special teams once again. On 4th and 4 on their own 20 yard line, punter Donnie Jones’ punt was blocked by Kentucky and recovered by LSU’s Derek Hinds at the LSU 8 yard line. With a very short field, the Wildcats scored three plays later on a 3 yard touchdown pass from Lorenzen to tight end Chase Harp and LSU’s lead was cut to 21-14 with three and a half minutes left in the third quarter. The score remained at 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
LSU extended their lead again on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Facing a 4th and 5 on the Kentucky 32 yard line, the Tigers elected to attempt a 49-yard field goal. This time Corbello was successful on the attempt and LSU’s lead was now 24-14 with fourteen minutes left in the fourth quarter. But the Wildcats killed LSU’s momentum on their ensuing possession. Starting on their own 32 yard line, Kentucky marched down the field in 10 plays and scored on a 25 yard touchdown pass from Lorenzen to Boone. But the snap on the extra point was bad and holder Glenn Pakulak’s desperation throw was unsuccessful as LSU’s lead was cut to 24-20 with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats carried that momentum forcing LSU into a 3-and-out and Kentucky got the ball back on their own 18 yard line. But the tide turned quickly when on their first play of the drive wide receiver Derek Abney fumbled the football and LSU’s Adrian Myles recovered the ball for the Tigers. Kentucky’s defense stepped up though and forced LSU into a field goal attempt after giving them a short field. Corbello’s 19-yard kick was good and LSU’s lead was extended to 27-20 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Kentucky responded though with their backs against the wall. Starting on their own 20 yard line, the Wildcats quickly moved the ball down the field in seven plays that ended in a 44 yard touchdown pass from Lorenzen to Boone and the game was tied at 27 with two minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats defense responded as well when they forced LSU into a 3-and-out on the ensuing possession and Kentucky got the ball back on the LSU 39 yard line with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Then, four plays into the drive and having a first down at the LSU 12 yard line with 11 seconds remaining, head coach Guy Morriss decided to waste no more time on the clock and elected to kick a field goal. Kicker Taylor Begley’s 29-yard field goal attempt was good and Kentucky took the lead 30-27 with only eight seconds remaining in the game.
The Commonwealth Stadium crowd was going into a frenzy at this point and Lorenzen and offensive lineman Antonio Hall even dumped Gatorade onto head coach Morriss. LSU started their drive on their own 9 yard line after a penalty on their kickoff return. On their first play Randall completed a 17 yard pass to wide receiver Michael Clayton. With only 2 seconds remaining LSU had only one more play from their own 25 yard line. Fans were already on the sidelines waiting to rush the field. On the snap, quarterback Marcus Randall rolled out toward his left and from his own 17 yard line heaved the ball towards the other endzone. Randall’s pass was well short of the endzone though and his throw was deflected by Kentucky’s Quentus Cumby and Earven Flowers. Amazingly, the ball went right into the hands of LSU’s Devery Henderson’s hands at the Kentucky 15 yard line, split Kentucky cornerbacks Derrick Tatum and Leonard Burress, and ran in the next 15 yards untouched for the game-winning touchdown. The crowd, with some fans actually already on the goalposts trying to tear them down, were absolutely stunned. The Wildcats seemingly had the victory right into their hands and it was taken from them by one last play. The play was so famous and so amazing that it got it’s own name, called the “Bluegrass Miracle” by LSU fans from now on.
Running back Artose Pinner was the workhorse for the Wildcats offense, running the ball 27 times for 143 yards and added an 18 yard reception. Aaron Boone was huge too with 3 receptions for 112 yards and all 3 receptions going for touchdowns. Kentucky won one of their last two games of the season and finished 2002 with
a 7-5 record. LSU went on to lose three of their last four games, including a 35-20 defeat to Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and finished the season with an 8-5 record.
So, we’re finally here. Tomorrow I will be revealing my picks for the #1 Biggest Victory and the #1 Heartbreaking Loss for Kentucky football over the past 25 seasons. Be sure to check back on the blog to find out which games I picked to top my list. Here are links to the other games featured in my countdown:
Kentucky Football: The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #10
Kentucky Football: The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #9
Kentucky Football: The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #8
Kentucky Football: The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #7
Kentucky Football: The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #6
Kentucky Football: The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #5
Kentucky Football: The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #4
Kentucky Football: The Thrill Of Victory And The Agony Of Defeat: #3
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans