Sunday, October 20, 2002
Kentucky 29, Arkansas 17
Abney sparks UK to big second half
The Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Kentucky changed its second-half habits Saturday, scoring 20 points, thanks to defense and special teams, in a 29-17 win over Arkansas.
In their past seven Southeastern Conference losses, the Wildcats led during the second half in six games. Kentucky (5-2, 1-2 SEC) came from behind on the Razorbacks with Derek Abney's 86-yard punt return and by taking advantage of two Razorbacks turnovers.
It was the Wildcats' first SEC road victory against a team other than Vanderbilt since a 30-10 win 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 UK 515 yards to 332, and Fred Talley had his second straight good game - 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.”
After halftime, Arkansas had the ball and 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.
“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.
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 TD 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.
Arkansas took a 10-3 lead on David Carlton's 26-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.
Kentucky 3 6 20 0 - 29
Arkansas 7 3 7 0 - 17
First Quarter
K-FG Begley 49, 11:36
A-Pierce 34 run (Carlton kick), 7:49
Second Quarter
A-FG Carlton 26, 14:57
K-Cook 4 pass from Lorenzen (kick blocked), 1:15
Third Quarter
K-Pinner 12 run (Begley kick), 14:37
K-Abney 86 punt return (kick failed), 11:17
A-Howard 1 run (Carlton kick), 8:03
K-Boone 18 pass from Lorenzen (Begley kick), 3:56
A-61,573.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Kentucky, Pinner 26-67, Boyd 2-11, Lorenzen 4-0, Harp 0-1. Arkansas, Talley 24-182, Jones 13-52, Pierce 4-42, Howard 9-13, Jackson 4-4.
PASSING-Kentucky, Lorenzen 19-31-0-253. Arkansas, Jones 15-25-1-210, Jackson 2-4-0-12.
RECEIVING-Kentucky, Boone 7-102, Abney 4-70, Cook 3-25, Simms 2-46, Bernard 1-7, Pinner 1-5, Kamphake 1-(minus-2). Arkansas, Wilson 6-82, Birmingham 5-60, Smith 2-29, Hicks 1-14, Poole 1-14, Crowder 1-14, Peters 1-9.
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Kentucky 29, Arkansas 17
