September 19, 1998
By TIM WHITMIRE
Associated Press Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – In Kentucky, a 79-yard touchdown off a fake punt is nobig surprise. The real shocker in Kentucky’s 31-27 victory over Indiana was thedefense coming to the rescue of the Wildcats’ usually high-powered offense.
“There was a highlight on every defensive snap,” Kentucky coach Hal Mummesaid Saturday after his Wildcats came from 17 points down in the third quarterat Commonwealth Stadium to beat the Hoosiers (1-1).
Linebacker John Rader’s 45-yard interception return of an ill-consideredshovel pass by Hoosiers quarterback Antwaan Randle El gave Kentucky (3-0) itsfirst lead of the game at 31-27 early in the fourth quarter. The defense sealedthe win by stopping Indiana on two final possessions.
The Hoosiers were let down by their special teams, which gave up an 88-yardkickoff return leading to a Kentucky touchdown and thefake-punt-turned-touchdown – the kind of go-for-broke call that has becomeMumme’s signature at Kentucky.
“Mumme called the fake punt at the right time,” Indiana coach Cam Cameronsaid. “We knew it was coming. We just didn’t execute.”
Cameron said his team never let up, even with a 17-point lead.
“We knew we needed 30 points to beat Kentucky,” Cameron said. “I didn’tthink for one second that our guys were relaxed. We just made some mistakes.”
Twenty of the Hoosiers’ points came on six Kentucky turnovers, includingfour interceptions thrown by quarterback Tim Couch. In the worst start of hiscollege career, Couch ended up with 301 yards passing on 38 completions in 53attempts.
His three first-half interceptions, two to linebacker Jabar Robinson, led to13 Hoosiers points.
“I thought it was good for us to get this one out of the way, because weclearly didn’t play our best game,” Couch said. “We really had to fightthrough to win, and we did that. I don’t think we would have won last year, butthat’s just experience.”
Kentucky’s comeback from a 27-10 deficit began with a pass thrown not bytheir star quarterback, but by backup Matt Mumme, the coach’s son.
Facing fourth-and-21 from their own 21 with under six minutes left in thethird quarter, the Wildcats lined up in punt formation. Instead of punter JimmyCarter, it was Mumme who taking the snap. He tossed to Garry Davis, who racedpast the Hoosiers for a 79-yard touchdown.
“I knew (the touchdown) was there before I got the snap,” Mumme said. “Iknew it was a footrace after that.”
Indiana then made two costly mistakes.
Up 27-17, Indiana running back De’Wayne Hogan fumbled at the Hoosiers 48,and the ball was recovered by Kentucky tackle George Massey. Two plays later,Couch connected in the left flat with Anthony White, who streaked down thesideline for a 48-yard touchdown.
With Indiana first-and-23 after a holding call on its next possession,Randle El was wrapped up by Kentucky defenders, and tried to shovel the ball toHogan. The pass was grabbed out of mid-air by Rader. Shielded by a cordon ofWildcat defenders, he raced down the left sideline for Kentucky’s first lead.
“I was like a shovel pass and I read it,” Rader said. “It popped up and Igot it in my hands and ran with it.”
The Wildcats drove deep into Hoosiers territory with just over three minutesleft, but Couch gave Indiana hope with his fourth interception, to Hoosiercornerback O.J. Spencer.
Randle El drove Indiana to the Kentucky 42, but with 42 seconds left, hisfourth-and-16 pass into the end zone fell untouched.
The Wildcats didn’t get in the end zone until seven seconds remained in thefirst half. With Kentucky trailing 20-3, Craig Yeast ran an Indiana kickoffback 88 yards, setting up Derek Homer’s 2-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal.
On the Wildcats’ first possession of the second half, a bad shotgun snapsailed by Couch and into the end zone, where defensive end Aaron Williams fellon the ball for an Indiana touchdown and a 27-10 lead.
