'Cats get defensive against Arkansas

Posted 8:42AM on Sunday 20th October 2002 ( 22 years ago )

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - Kentucky changed its second-half habits Saturday, scoring 20 points, thanks to defense and special teams in a 29-17 victory over Arkansas. In the past seven Southeastern Conference losses, the Wildcats led during the second half in six times. Kentucky (5-2 overall, 1-2 SEC) came from behind on the Razorbacks with Derek Abney's 86-yard punt return and by taking advantage of two Razorback turnovers. It was the Wildcats' first SEC road victory at some place other than Vanderbilt since winning 30-10 at South Carolina in 1999. ``We went in at the half and we had made every possible mistake and were only down one point,'' Kentucky coach Guy Morriss said. ``I told our guys that we were going to have to play well to get back in the game again. I am very pleased with their response in the second half.'' Arkansas (3-3, 1-3) outgained Kentucky 515 to 332 yards and Fred Talley had his second straight good game with 182 yards on 24 carries. But Abney's return and two touchdowns in 29 seconds following a Matt Jones interception and fumbled punt by DeCori Birmingham negated a decent performance by the Razorbacks' defense. ``If you told me that we were going to get 500 yards of offense and we're going to get two or three turnovers, I'd say we were going to win the game,'' Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. ``You've got to execute at the right time and you darn sure can't let a special teams play break your back and that broke our back.'' Arkansas had the ball first after halftime with a 10-9 lead, but Kentucky safety Mike Williams intercepted Jones' forced attempt to Birmingham on the first play. Running back Artose Pinner gave the Wildcats a 16-10 lead on the next play with a 12-yard touchdown run. Abney struck next with his third career punt return for a touchdown and his second this year. Taylor Begley missed the extra point, but the Wildcats led 22-10. ``The punt return for the touchdown is really what jump-started us,'' Morriss said. Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen, was 19 of 31 for 253 yards, threw his second touchdown on an 18-yard backside screen pass to Aaron Boone three plays after Birmingham let a rain-soaked punt slip through his hands at the Arkansas 17. Kentucky led 29-17 with 3:56 left in the third quarter and Arkansas threatened to score just once more. ``We are finally over the hump and making the big plays,'' said Boone, who had his second 100-yard receiving game this year with seven catches for 102 yards. ``Jared stuck with me a lot today and helped me make some big plays. He threw some balls where only I could catch them.'' The Razorbacks responded to Abney's touchdown with a nine-play drive, capped by De'Arrius Howard's 1-yard run to pull within five points with 8:03 left in the quarter. The Arkansas defense held Kentucky on the ensuing possession, but Birmingham's drop set up Boone's touchdown. ``They took a beating from us today,'' Lorenzen said. ``We knew we wanted this road victory, so we were ready for it in practice.'' The Wildcats had a chance to tie the game before halftime, but Pervis Osborne blocked the extra point following Lorenzen's 4-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Cook. Lorenzen converted three third downs on the 10-play drive, with passes of 19 and 16 yards before the touchdown toss. Kentucky threatened to take a 10-point lead after its first two possessions, but Arkansas cornerback Lawrence Richardson ended the Wildcats' drive. Lorenzen connected with Ernest Simms, who hit a seam in the Arkansas secondary and was 41 yards downfield before Richardson caught him and punched the ball loose at the Arkansas 14. Richardson pounced on the ball, and the Razorbacks needed just two plays to cover 86 yards for a 7-3 lead. Fred Talley rounded the right side of the line and tiptoed down the sideline for 52 yards before Wildcats safety Claude Segaille pushed him out of bounds at the Kentucky 34. Fullback Mark Pierce ran 34 yards on the next play. Arkansas took a 10-3 lead on David Carlton's 26-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/188695

&#39;Cats get defensive against Arkansas

'Cats get defensive against Arkansas