UK tied on top of SEC after 21-13 win at Oklahoma

Kenny Minchey threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Castell returned an interception 41 yards for a score and No. 15 Kentucky rallied in the second half to beat Oklahoma 21-13 on Saturday night and move into a tie for the Southeastern Conference lead.

Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC) has won five straight and pulled even with No. 1 Georgia after the Bulldogs lost to Auburn.

The Wildcats intercepted Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer three times and holder Jacob Ulrich once. Castell’s late score sealed the win, but the first of Ty Bryant’s two picks breathed life into Kentucky, which trailed 13-7 with time winding down in the third quarter and struggled to move the ball up until then.

Following the pick, Minchey took the Wildcats 44 yards in seven plays, finding tight end Willie Hernandez for a 12-yard touchdown. Adam Zouagui’s extra point gave Kentucky a 14-13 lead.

Mateer threw for 270 yards and a touchdown and Oklahoma finished with 346 yards of offense, but the Sooners struggled to score points and his mistakes ended up costing the Sooners (3-3, 1-2) who knocked off then-No. 1 Texas the previous week.

Kentucky drove 67 yards for a score on its first possession, with Minchey finding Rodriguez for a 2-yard TD. But Oklahoma’s defense held the Wildcats to 76 yards and four punts on their next five drives.

After Oklahoma’s second drive stalled at the Kentucky 10-yard line, the Sooners lined up for a 29-yard field goal attempt. Only Tate Sandell went in motion and holder Jacob Ulrich took the snap and ran toward the line of scrimmage, jumped and threw a feeble pass intended for tight end Rocky Beers that was intercepted in the end zone by Castell.

Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday.



(AP Photo Alonzo Adams)