Vanderbilt wins first SEC recreation since 2019 by beautiful No. 24 Kentucky
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Vanderbilt scored the game-winning landing with 32 seconds left to submit a 24-21 upset of No. 24 Kentucky on Saturday and snap a 26-game SEC shedding streak.
Vanderbilt’s final convention win had come Oct. 19, 2019, a 21-14 victory over Missouri. The Commodores (4-6, 1-5 SEC) had final received a convention recreation on the street in October 2018 in opposition to Arkansas.
Quarterback Mike Wright ran 59 yards for a landing within the first quarter earlier than finishing an 8-yard landing move to Will Sheppard to assert the win.
Wright was named the Commodores’ beginning quarterback to open the season however was benched following a 45-25 loss to Wake Forest on Sept. 10. Freshman AJ Swann began the previous six video games however was dominated out in opposition to Kentucky as a result of an harm.
“You bought a bunch of fellows which might be preventing,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea stated. “We’re constructing a program, and constructing a program’s laborious. It takes folks which might be aligned, doing the fitting issues the fitting means. And that is what these guys are doing. I am glad they received rewarded right now.”
Wright ran for 126 yards and a landing and threw for 184 yards and one other rating. Ray Davis added 126 speeding yards and a landing for the Commodores.
“There’s going to be lots to wash up, however we wish to be taught from wins,” Lea stated. “I am happy with Mike. Mike’s had a tricky yr, personally a tricky yr. However he is fought by means of that and stayed together with his teammates and ready each week. He is made some huge performs for us this season. He got here out with a giant run on the finish to attach with Will Sheppard, and I believed he did some very nice issues to maintain us within the recreation early.”
Kentucky (6-4, 3-4) appeared to have survived the Vanderbilt effort after operating again Chris Rodriguez twice gave the Wildcats a lead, scoring from the 5 for a 15-14 edge then racing 72 yards for a landing to make it 21-17 with 5:03 left within the recreation.
Vanderbilt’s game-winning drive appeared stalled, however Octavious Oxendine’s private foul worn out a Tyrell Ajian interception. Given new life, Wright accomplished a 40-yard move to Quincy Skinner Jr. to the Kentucky 9 on fourth-and-11 to arrange the successful rating.
“You give them credit score,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops stated. “I’ve been there. I understand how laborious they’ve labored. It is a good second for them. It is laborious for me to place my finger on [one] factor. Disenchanted with the best way issues have gone. I believe everyone seems to be. For no matter cause, I am not getting it performed with this group.”
That is the not the primary time Kentucky has been the group Vanderbilt has crushed to snap an extended shedding streak. In 2003, the Commodores beat the Wildcats 28-17 at residence on Nov. 15 behind 4 landing passes from Jay Cutler to finish a 23-game shedding streak.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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