Cats stun No. 6 Rebs
Kentucky offensive lineman Gerald Mincey celebrated the Wildcats' 20-17 win over No. 6 Ole Miss when Saturday's game in Oxford ended. (Petre Thomas/USA Today Sports)
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated
Managing Editor Edit
@JDrumUK
Kentucky delivered the biggest victory of the Mark Stoops era on Saturday, stunning No. 6 Ole Miss 20-17 in Oxford behind a spirited effort from the Wildcats' formidable defense.
Facing the nation's top-ranked offense, a unit that entered the matchup averaging a gaudy 670 yards of total offense and 55 points per game, Kentucky kept the Rebels quiet for most of the afternoon at Vaught Hemingway Stadium.
The Wildcats (3-2, 1-2 SEC) allowed only 353 yards, held Ole Miss to 1-for-10 on third down, recorded four sacks, and forced the game's lone turnover -- all while playing without their top defensive back, Maxwell Hairston, who did not make the trip due to a shoulder injury.
The 17 points marked the lowest figure for Ole Miss (4-1, 0-1 SEC) in an SEC home game during the Lane Kiffin era.
"Everybody wants to be pretty," Stoops said. "That wasn't pretty out there, but the result was. It was tough and dirty, it was hard and gritty... That was just a relentless effort."
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