Minchey’s two-point run gives Kentucky a 35-34 overtime win over LSU

Kenny Minchey ran for a two-point conversion in overtime Saturday night, giving No. 25 Kentucky a 35-34 victory over No. 10 LSU at Kroger Field. CJ Baxter’s one-yard touchdown had brought the Wildcats within a point, and Kentucky chose to decide the game on its next snap.

The Wildcats spread the field and sent Minchey up the middle for the winning conversion. It was Kentucky’s second straight overtime victory, following a 35-34 win at South Carolina. Kentucky improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 4-2 and 1-2.

Kentucky’s opportunity nearly disappeared during a difficult closing stretch of regulation. Adam Zouagui missed field goals from 42 and 26 yards with fewer than five minutes remaining. One of those chances followed a Sam Leavitt fumble on a sack, giving the Wildcats the ball in LSU territory.

Minchey and the offense got another chance and moved into range again. Zouagui made a 33-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 27, completing a recovery from the two earlier misses and sending the teams into overtime.

LSU scored first in the extra period when Leavitt scrambled 15 yards for a touchdown. Scott Starzyk’s extra point made it 34-27. Kentucky’s answer depended on a 22-yard completion from Minchey to Kenny Darby that moved the ball to the LSU one. Baxter finished the possession two plays later, setting up Minchey’s deciding run.

Baxter rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. His 77-yard run on Kentucky’s opening offensive play had set up a three-yard touchdown and an early 7-3 lead. Minchey completed 23 of 36 passes for 246 yards without an interception, and Darby finished with four catches for 79 yards.

The game had also turned on special teams before halftime. Brock Coffman returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. LSU regained the lead on Leavitt’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Harris, but Minchey scored from one yard out on the final play of the half to put Kentucky ahead 21-17.

LSU’s most unusual scoring play came in the fourth quarter. Harris threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Roman Mothershed with 9:42 remaining, giving the Tigers a 27-24 lead. The pass added to Leavitt’s 275 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

The Tigers finished with 410 total yards against Kentucky’s 401, but committed two turnovers while the Wildcats committed none. Ty Bryant’s third-quarter interception gave Kentucky another possession, although the offense could not turn it into points. The final conversion settled a game neither team had been able to close in regulation. Kentucky visits Oklahoma next week, and LSU returns home to face Mississippi State.

Sources

ESPN final statistics and scoring · Via ESPN · Official team game report