Mark Stoops said his Kentucky Wildcats need a break.
Ole Miss obliged on Saturday.
The Rebels missed a 48-yard field goal wide left with 48 seconds left to give Kentucky its fifth win over a top-six team in The Associated Press top 25 with a 20-17 victory.
“I said one time,” Stoops said after the game. “One time we need a break. We need a block or a miss. We were fortunate to get the miss.”
Facing first-and-goal at the 6-yard line late in the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Gavin Wimsatt fumbled near the goal line on a Wildcat formation, but the ball bounced to tight end Josh Kattus in the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown.
“It means a lot because we started tough,” Stoops said. “We had a brutal schedule. Our guys just keep on fighting, keep on coming back. We took the No. 1 down to the wire, and that’s no fluke. But, yet, we have so much more work to do. We know that. We know who we are. I love these kids, and these coaches. These coaches did a remarkable job.”
Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff completed 18 of 28 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown, while receiver Dane Key grabbed eight passes for 105 yards and one score.
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
