No. 12 Kentucky football beats Vanderbilt, improves to 7-1

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Kenny Minchey threw for a touchdown and ran for another, as No. 12 Kentucky beat Vanderbilt 34-17 on Saturday night at Kroger Field.

Kentucky (7-1, 5-1 SEC) trailed 10-0 in the second quarter before scoring 14 points in the final 5:04 of the first half. After Vanderbilt cut it to 21-17 in the third, the Wildcats closed with 13 straight points.

It is Kentucky’s fifth straight SEC win: at Texas A&M, at South Carolina, vs. LSU, at Oklahoma and vs. Vanderbilt- the program’s first five-game SEC win streak since 1977. The Wildcats went undefeated in the month of October.

Vanderbilt (3-5, 0-5) has lost five straight.

Minchey, a senior from Pope John Paul II in Hendersonville, Tenn., was 19 of 26 for 203 yards with no interceptions. He ran 5 times for 23 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown with 5:11 left that capped a 13-play, 77-yard drive.

Vanderbilt freshman quarterback Jared Curtis was 27 of 36 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Junior wide receiver Sherrill caught eight passes for 78 yards.

Kentucky outgained Vanderbilt 364-262, had 23 first downs to 15 for the Commodores and went 8 of 13 on third down.

Vanderbilt led 3-0 on senior Brock Taylor’s 30-yard field goal, then 10-0 on Curtis’ 3-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Jayvontay Conner to cap a 16-play, 95-yard drive.

Kentucky answered with Minchey’s 9-yard touchdown pass to sophomore WR DJ Miller and junior tight end Willie Rodriguez’s 1-yard run with 21 seconds left in the half for a 14-10 lead.

Sophomore QB Brennen Ward’s 10-yard run made it 21-10 out of halftime. It was his first collegiate touchdown. Curtis hit junior Ja’Cory Thomas for a 34-yard touchdown to cut it to 21-17 with 5:45 left in the third.

Senior Adam Zouagui kicked field goals of 47 and 32 yards for Kentucky.

Freshman WR Kenny Darby led Kentucky with four catches for 71 yards. Fifth-year running back Jovantae Barnes rushed 13 times for 56 yards.

Senior safety Jordan Castell led Kentucky’s defense with eight tackles.

Kentucky has a bye next week before playing at Tennessee on Nov. 7 in Knoxville.