No. 12 Kentucky blanks Vanderbilt in fourth quarter, pulls away 34-17

No. 12 Kentucky trailed early, led by four at halftime and by seven after three quarters, then closed out Vanderbilt with 10 unanswered points in the fourth for a 34-17 SEC victory at Kroger Field. The decisive numbers were on the ground and in the turnover column: the Wildcats ran for 173 yards on 39 carries while holding the Commodores to 15 rushing yards on 17 attempts, an average of 0.9 yards per carry, and Kentucky finished with 24 first downs to Vanderbilt's 15.

Kenny Minchey managed the game cleanly for the Wildcats, completing 19 of 26 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Jovantae Barnes carried 15 times for 68 yards, and Kenny Darby was the top target with four catches for 71 yards. Kentucky did not turn the ball over.

Vanderbilt moved the ball through the air but nowhere else. Jared Curtis completed 27 of 36 throws for 247 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and Junior Sherrill caught eight passes for 78 yards. Curtis was also the Commodores' leading rusher, with 6 yards on eight attempts, a reflection of a ground game that never got started.

The game swung in the second quarter, when Kentucky scored 14 points to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 14-10 halftime lead. The Wildcats added 10 in the third and 10 more in the fourth, while Vanderbilt's seven third-quarter points were its last of the afternoon.

Kentucky's defense got a sack from Jamarrion Harkless and eight tackles from Jordan Castell. Vanderbilt's Bryce Cowan finished with 12 tackles and Edwin Kolenge recorded a sack. The Commodores hurt themselves with nine penalties for 75 yards and two turnovers, including a lost fumble.

Kentucky improved to 7-1 with the win. Vanderbilt dropped to 3-5.