Sept. 10, 2005
Final Stats
Lexington, KY ---, Rafael Little took a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown with 4:51 to go in the game, and Kentucky added a touchdown with 1:18 left after a questionable pass interference penalty kept a drive alive, as the Wildcats held on for a 41-29 win over the Bengals.
The Bengals dropped to 1-1, although their effort was of Herculean proportions. The Bengals outgained the SEC's Kentucky 448-310, but the difference of the game was in special teams, where the Wildcats had five kickoff returns for 287 yards, including two 90+ returns.
The Bengals had taken a 29-28 lead with 5:06 remaining when Shedrack Okoebor blocked a Tim Masthay punt and Sterling Mennear scooped up the loose ball and raced 26 yards for the score. However, Little's return on the following play gave Kentucky the lead for good.
Shomari Moore picked off a Matt Hagler pass with 3:44 in the fourth quarter on the next drive with Idaho State driving for the potential winning touchdown. The `Cats then converted that into the clinching touchdown with 1:18 left. The Bengals looked to have forced a field goal attempt with 1:40 to go, but Donte' Williams was called for pass interference, although on replay, it looked like he was picked off on a cross route. Kentucky then scored two plays later.
The Bengals trailed 28-16 when Matt Hagler drove ISU 80 yards before scoring his second rushing of the game to make it 28-23. That score came after Kentucky basically owned the third quarter, scoring on a 9-yard pass from Andre' Woodson to Keenan Jeremy Drobney, and 2-yard Arliss Breech run.
The Bengals took the lead at the halftime gun after a picture perfect 12-play 65 yard drive that run off the final 5:19. After a screen to Eddie Thompson got the Bengals to the 1-yard line with three seconds left, Matt Hagler sneaked it over from a yard out to put ISU on top at the half 16-14.
Prior to that score, all ISU could show for their efforts were three field goals from Jaret Johnson, including a career-long 50 yarder. The Bengals outgained Kentucky 313 to 140 in the first half. Kentucky had a short field to work with to start, as they scored on a 6-yard run in their first play from scrimmage. That Alexis Bwenge 6-yard run followed Keenan Burton's 93-yard kickoff return to open the game.
NOTES: Jaret Johnson's 50-yard field goal in the first quarter was a career long, and it was the 32nd 50-yard field goal in school history, it tied for ISU's seventh longest outdoor kick ... Johnson's three field goals were a career-high ... Ryan Slack had a successful onside kick in the first quarter, making him three-for-four in his career ... Matt Hagler's 63-yard pass to Dane Simmons was the longest pass and catch for both players in their careers ... at the 1:58 mark of the second quarter, the Bengals got their first taste of replay when Shedrack Okoebor's 25-yard first down catch was reviewed to see whether or not he fumbled, but his knee was ruled down ... The kickoff return for a touchdown against ISU was the first since November 8, 2003 when Northern Arizona's Jeremy Thornburg returned an onsides kick for a score ... Ken Cornist rushed for 87 yards ... Hagler's 291 yards were a career-high.
