LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - Artose Pinner made sure Kentucky didn't have to sweat out another ``Hail Mary'' pass on Saturday.
The Southeastern Conference's top rusher ran for a career-high 224 yards and four touchdowns in Kentucky's 41-21 win over Vanderbilt.
Pinner nearly upstaged Derek Abney, who set an NCAA record with his sixth kick return for a score this season.
The Wildcats (7-4, 3-4 SEC) led only 28-21 with 4:32 left and took over possession at their own 25. Kentucky drove for a late field goal against LSU last week, only to see the Tigers win on a miraculous 75-yard pass as time expired.
But Pinner put Saturday's game out of reach, carrying nine times for 82 yards and an insurance touchdown on the decisive drive.
``Coach Morriss told me, 'I'm going to ride you all the way down the field. I hope you're in shape,'' said Pinner, one of 20 Kentucky seniors playing their final games at Commonwealth Stadium.
Pinner's 1-yard touchdown dive with 16 seconds left was his fourth TD run of the game, which tied a school record. He also became the fifth Wildcat to go over 2,000 career rushing yards.
``To end my season here with a day like this means a lot,'' Pinner said. ``I'm not tired, but my hands are a little bruised.''
Pinner had the best day, but Abney had the best play.
The Commodores kicked off after tying the game at 7-7 in the first quarter and Abney caught the kick at the Kentucky 5. He followed blockers down the sideline, outran a trio of defenders and dived for the end zone pylon for a 95-yard touchdown.
In addition to the NCAA record, Abney also set an SEC record with his seventh career kick return for a touchdown. The 5-10, 175-pound junior needs one punt or kick return to tie the NCAA career record.
``I was hoping they would give us a chance and they did,'' Abney said. ``You don't want to break a record away from home. It's something I can tell my grandkids.''
Jay Cutler threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns to lead Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7), which lost its 16th straight conference game.
Cutler didn't have a chance to throw a fourth-quarter ``Hail Mary'' on Saturday. The game's final snap sailed over his head, and Kentucky defensive end Otis Grigsby recovered in the end zone.
The Wildcats started fast against the league's worst scoring defense, driving 68 yards for a touchdown on the game's first possession. Pinner finished the march with a 23-yard scoring run.
Vanderbilt's Jonathan Schaub intercepted a deflected pass by Jared Lorenzen at midfield later in the first quarter, snapping the Kentucky quarterback's school-record streak of 152 passes without a pick.
It was only the Commodores' 10th forced turnover of the season and led to Cutler's 38-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tom Simone.
Abney answered with the kickoff return and a Vanderbilt fumble set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Pinner less than two minutes later.
Pinner was over 100 yards rushing early in the second quarter. He added a 16-yard touchdown run with 10:39 left in the first half for a 28-7 Kentucky lead.
``He's big, strong and doesn't quit,'' said Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson. ``He got a good bit of yardage after contact. You've got to stop him early or there aren't many who can stop him.''
Dan Stricker made a one-handed touchdown catch with 11 seconds left in the first half cut the deficit to 28-14.
Kwane Doster had a 39-yard run to the Kentucky 1 and Cutler scored on a fourth-down sneak in the third quarter's final minute to make it 28-21.
Lorenzen threw his second interception to Herdley Harrison at the Vanderbilt 43 with 5:35 left, but the Commodores couldn't take advantage.
Lorenzen finished 14-of-23 for 128 yards, his lowest yardage total in a start since the 2001 season opener against Louisville. Lorenzen still became Kentucky's all-time leader in total offense, passing Tim Couch's record of 8,160.
``I didn't have to have a great day for us to win. We had Artose,'' Lorenzen said.
Wednesday
August 27th, 2025
3:10PM
