In a dramatic overtime showdown on Saturday night, the Kentucky Wildcats edged past No. 10 LSU 35‑34 thanks to a clutch 2‑point conversion by quarterback Kenneth Minchey. After C.J. Baxter broke the deadlock with a 1‑yard rush, Minchey saw an opening in the middle of the field and sprinted untouched to seal the win.
Key moments
LSU (4‑2, 1‑2 SEC) struck first in overtime when quarterback Sam Leavitt powered a 15‑yard run for a touchdown. Kentucky (5‑1, 3‑1) answered with Baxter’s short plunge, setting up the decisive conversion.
Minchey, who finished 23‑of‑36 for 246 yards passing—206 of those in the second half—explained his decision: “There was nobody in the middle, so I figured I would run there. It was great.”
How Kentucky forced overtime
With 12 seconds left in regulation, kicker Adam Zouagui nailed a 33‑yard field goal after earlier misses from 42 and 26 yards. The Wildcats had battled back after a fumble by LSU’s Leavitt and a series of defensive stands, despite being shorthanded by three linebackers, two defensive backs and a defensive lineman.
Freshman receiver Kenneth Darby, a former LSU commit, contributed four catches for 79 yards, including a crucial 22‑yard reception in overtime that placed Kentucky at the LSU 1‑yard line.
Coaches’ reactions
Wildcats head coach Will Stein praised his team’s resilience: “I’m in shock. We’ve got a really good football team. People count us out. It gives us a lot of fuel. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t perfect. We just kept fighting.” He also highlighted the defense’s role, noting “unbelievable plays and takeaways” despite injuries.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin expressed disappointment: “It came down to a one‑play game, but there were a lot of plays before that to close the game out. If you don’t execute, you don’t execute.” He pointed to missed tackles on a 55‑yard punt return touchdown as a costly error.
Statistical snapshot
LSU’s defense, ranked third nationally for allowing only 220.6 yards per game, surrendered 401 yards to Kentucky. The Tigers’ offense, also third in the nation at 547.8 yards per game, was held to 410 yards.
For Kentucky, this victory marks the program’s first-ever back‑to‑back overtime wins, both ending 35‑34. The Wildcats had previously upset South Carolina on the road but fell out of the Top 25 poll. A win this week could propel them back into the rankings.
Looking ahead
LSU will host No. 17 Mississippi State next Saturday, while Kentucky travels to Oklahoma for its next matchup.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
