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 LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky scored three touchdowns in the final 20 minutes to rally past Central Michigan, 27-13, at Commonwealth Stadium Saturday.
CHIPS IN CHARGE EARLY
The Chippewas (1-1 overall) controlled play for the better part of a half, out-gaining UK 227-94 and holding a two-to-one advantage in time of possession in the first half. However, the Wildcats (2-0) scored a pair of lightning-fast touchdowns to swing momentum in their favor.
Three extended scoring drives in the first half staked the Chippewas (1-1 overall) to a 13-6 lead that held up into the closing minutes of the third quarter.
CMU CASHES IN ON OPENING DRIVE
The Chippewas covered 81 yards in 16 plays with the opening kickoff, erasing 6:56 off the first-quarter clock. Radcliff completed 6-of-10 passes for 59 yards on the drive, including a 15-yard throw to Jerry Harris on fourth-and-5. The Kentucky defense held inside the 5, however, and David Harman converted a 19-yard field goal to put the Chippewas in front.
Craig McIntosh tied the score with the first of his two first-half field goals, but CMU responded with a nine-play, 80-yard drive that Radcliff capped with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Harris.
The CMU defense forced a three-and-out, and Harman stretched the CMU lead to 13-3 with a 30-yard field goal on the ensuing possession.
A 45-yard McIntosh field goal cut the lead to 13-6 before the CMU defense came up with the first of two critical stops late in the half.
After Radcliff was intercepted deep in CMU territory, the defense surrendered just four yards in three plays before a 24-yard McIntosh field goal deflected off the right upright.
INTERCEPTIONS STOPS WILDCATS
The Chippewas went three-and-out after the missed field goal, but Taylor Bradley snuffed out Kentucky's next drive with an acrobatic interception at the goal line with 90 seconds left in the half.
Kentucky began to take control of the game late in the third quarter. One play after CMU was stopped on fourth-and-inches from its own 34-yard line, Morgan Newton hit a wide-open La'Rod King with a touchdown pass that tied the score.
UK TAKES LEAD ON BIG PLAY
The Chippewas moved to the UK 48-yard line before Richie Hogan's punt was downed at the UK 10-yard line. Two plays later, Josh Clemons broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and sprinted 87 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
CMU punted again to open the fourth quarter, and Kentucky put the game away with a 13-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that lasted nearly seven minutes.
Radcliff finished 24-of-45 passing for 295 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted twice. Wilson caught seven passes for 71 yards, while Harris made six receptions for 91 yards.
Newton completed just 9-of-18 passes for 114 yards for the Wildcats. He threw one touchdown pass and was intercepted once. King caught five passes for 100 yards, including a 46-yard reception and a 34-yard touchdown grab, while Clemons finished with 126 rushing yards on 14 attempts. EIghty-seven of Clemons' 126 yards came on his third-quarter touchdown run.
PETRUCCI AND BRADLEY SHINE FOR CMU
Mike Petrucci paced the CMU defense with 12 tackles, while Bradley created two turnovers: his interception near the goal line and a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff of the second half.
Danny Trevathan and Winston Guy both tallied 13 tackles for Kentucky. Trevathan added 3.5 tackles for a loss and intercepted a pass.
The Chippewas are back on the road next week, visiting Western Michigan at noon.
Courtesy of Central Michigan Athletics
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