Eric Boggs 
Kentucky and Ole Miss
The University of Kentucky Wildcats pulled off a monumental 20-17 upset over the No. 6 ranked Ole Miss Rebels in a hard-fought Southeastern Conference showdown at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. Kentucky’s relentless defense and late-game heroics helped them secure their first SEC win of the season, improving to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play under head coach Mark Stoops. Meanwhile, Ole Miss, led by head coach Lane Kiffin, dropped to 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the SEC.
The game began with a strong start for Ole Miss, as quarterback Jaxson Dart orchestrated a quick and efficient opening drive. The Rebels moved the ball with ease, including a pair of key completions from Dart to wide receiver Tre Harris. Dart found Harris for a 39-yard connection that brought Ole Miss down to the 1-yard line, where running back Henry Parrish Jr. punched it in for a 1-yard touchdown, giving Ole Miss an early 7-0 lead.
Kentucky answered with a methodical drive of their own but found the Ole Miss defense stout in the red zone. Despite moving the ball effectively, Kentucky was forced to settle for a 27-yard Alex Raynor field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3. Both defenses stiffened after that, with sacks from Kentucky’s Octavious Oxendine and Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen stopping each team’s subsequent drives.
As the second quarter progressed, penalties began to plague Ole Miss, halting their offensive momentum. Kentucky capitalized on these mistakes, and just before halftime, quarterback Brock Vandagriff connected with wide receiver Dane Key for a short touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 10-7 lead. Ole Miss, hindered by eight first-half penalties for 53 yards, couldn’t find their rhythm, and Kentucky controlled the clock, holding possession for nearly 22 minutes of the first half compared to just over eight minutes for the Rebels.
The momentum appeared to swing back in Ole Miss’ favor as the third quarter began. The Rebel defense quickly forced a three-and-out, giving their offense a chance to regain control. A couple of strong runs by Henry Parrish Jr. set up a 31-yard field goal from Caden Davis, tying the game at 10-10.
Kentucky responded with a field goal of their own on the next drive, as Alex Raynor nailed a 48-yarder to give the Wildcats a 13-10 lead. But Ole Miss wasn’t done yet. With the clock winding down in the third quarter, Jaxson Dart came up with a pivotal play, facing 4th-and-7 near midfield. Dart stood tall in the face of a Kentucky blitz and delivered a perfect strike to Tre Harris, who sliced through the Wildcats’ secondary for a 48-yard touchdown. This explosive play gave Ole Miss a 17-13 lead and sent the Rebel fans into a frenzy. The crowd of 67,616 set a new attendance record at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, hoping to see their team remain undefeated.
The fourth quarter quickly turned into a defensive struggle as both teams’ offenses slowed. Kentucky’s drive was stalled early by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but the Wildcats’ defense refused to let Ole Miss pull away. The Rebels found themselves inches short on several key third downs, forced to punt the ball back to Kentucky multiple times.
With less than seven minutes left in the game, Kentucky’s offense began to find its footing. Brock Vandagriff led a crucial drive down the field, but it looked as though Ole Miss’ defense might seal the game when standout safety Trey Washington forced a fumble from Gavin Wimsatt deep in Kentucky territory. However, fate smiled on the Wildcats, as tight end Josh Kattus recovered the ball in the end zone, turning what could have been a turnover into a go-ahead touchdown. Kentucky now led 20-17 with just over three minutes remaining.
Ole Miss had one last chance to tie or win the game, but their offensive struggles persisted. Facing a critical 4th-and-11, Jaxson Dart scrambled away from pressure and found tight end Caden Prieskorn for a 42-yard completion that kept the drive alive. The Rebels marched into Kentucky territory, setting up Caden Davis for a 48-yard field goal attempt to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately for the Rebels, Davis’ kick sailed wide, securing Kentucky’s upset victory.
Jaxson Dart finished the game 18-for-27 passing with 261 yards and a touchdown, along with 22 rushing yards. His favorite target, Tre Harris, had a standout day with 11 receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown, though his fumble late in the game proved costly. Henry Parrish Jr. added 62 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown. Despite their efforts, Ole Miss was undone by penalties and offensive inconsistency, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they managed just 55 total yards and one first down.
Kentucky, on the other hand, dominated time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 40 minutes. Quarterback Brock Vandagriff threw for 218 yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Barion Brown had four catches for 105 yards, including the critical 63-yard reception that set up Kentucky’s game-winning score. Defensively, the Wildcats sacked Dart four times and held Ole Miss to only three points in the second half.
With this win, Kentucky heads into their bye week with momentum. They will return to action on October 12th, hosting Vanderbilt for their annual Homecoming game at Kroger Field. Meanwhile, Ole Miss will look to rebound as they travel to Columbia to face South Carolina in a crucial SEC road matchup next Saturday. This stunning upset shakes up the SEC standings, and Kentucky’s defense will look to continue its strong play as the Wildcats aim to climb the conference ranks in the coming weeks.
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