LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter ran for 114 yardsand passed for 147 as No. 11 Georgia held on for a 28-26 victory over Kentuckyon Saturday as the Wildcats missed a last-second field goal attempt.
Kentucky (5-3 overall, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) had a chance to win thegame as kicker Seth Hanson lined up for a 49-yard field goal try with 10seconds left.
But Jimmy Haley’s snap went awry and holder Matt Mumme couldn’t place theball. Mumme, the backup quarterback, picked up the ball and ran but was tackledas time ran out.
It was a dramatic finish to a game Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) had looked readyto put away minutes earlier. The Bulldogs had the ball second-and-3 at theKentucky 28 with under 2:30 left, when running back Ronnie Bradley fumbled on ahit by safety Jeff Zurcher. Defensive end Dennis Johnson recovered at the 24,giving the Wildcats new life with 2:00 left.
With only one timeout left, Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch moved theWildcats to the Georgia 33 from where Hanson, who had earlier made acareer-best 42-yard field goal, lined up for the pivotal last play. Hansonkicked a last-second field goal last week as Kentucky upset LSU 39-36.
The Bulldogs’ defense, which had given up an average of 11.7 points per gamecoming in, held Kentucky scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Carter finished 10-of-14 for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Couch had hiseighth straight 300-yard passing day, going 34-of-46 for 326 yards and twotouchdowns.
Held scoreless in the first quarter, as Kentucky took a 10-0 lead, Carterbrought the Bulldogs back with four scoring drives in the second and thirdquarters. Carter’s 34-yard pass to split end Tony Small gave Georgia its firstlead of the game at 21-17 on the Bulldog’s first possession of the thirdquarter.
After Hanson’s 42-yarder made it 21-20, Georgia extended the lead to 28-20on Carter’s 8-yard throw to tight end Jermain Wiggins midway through the thirdquarter.
Kentucky responded with a 73-yard drive that featured eight consecutiverunning plays – a rarity in Kentucky coach Hal Mumme’s pass-oriented offense.When Derek Homer burst through right guard for a 1-yard touchdown with 2:58left in the third quarter, Kentucky was within 28-26.
A ninth straight run, by Homer on the 2-point conversion attempt, wasstopped and the Bulldogs kept the lead.
When Kentucky got the ball back, Couch moved the Wildcats to the Georgia 28,but safety Kirby Smart stepped in front of a ball intended for wide receiverGarry Davis, ending the Kentucky drive.
