This Week in UK Football History: Charlotte Week
On Thursdays throughout the 2015 season we will take a trip down memory lane and look back at past great plays, players and games associated with University of Kentucky football for that given week. So be sure to check back with us each and every Thursday to relive the moments that make this football program so special.
Nov. 15
• 1952: Larry Jones had a career high 105 rushing yards as the Wildcats defeated the Clemson Tigers, 27-14.
• 1980: Greg Wimberly had a career high 144 receiving yards as Kentucky was narrowly beaten by Florida, 17-15.
• 1986: Quarterback Bill Ransdell was nearly perfect through the air, completing 20 of 23 passes for a school record 86.9 percent, in Kentucky’s 10-3 win over Florida. This is the last time that the Wildcats have defeated the Gators.
• 1997: Craig Yeast returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, becoming the first player in school history to have two career kickoff returns for touchdowns, in Kentucky’s 21-10 victory against Vanderbilt.
Nov. 16
• 1974: Kicker John Pierce successfully made a 52-yard field goal, setting a then-school record for longest made field goal, as Kentucky upset No. 9 Florida, 41-24. That was at the time the most points that Kentucky had ever scored against a ranked opponent.
• 1991: Kicker Doug Pelfrey successfully made a 52-yard field goal, then tied for the third-longest made field goal in school history, as the Wildcats lost to Florida, 35-26. The offense was led by Neal Clark’s career high 101 receiving yards.
• 1996: Derick Logan rushed for 132 yards, his third and final career 100-yard rushing game, as Kentucky shut out Vanderbilt, 25-0. This was the last victory for head coach Bill Curry at Kentucky.
• 2002: Running back Artose Pinner ran all over Vanderbilt’s defense, rushing for a career high 224 yards and tying a school record with four rushing touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 41-21 win over the Commodores. Kentucky had a great start to the game, tying a school record with 21 first-quarter points. Special teams play aided in the victory when Derek Abney returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first player in school history to have two kickoff return touchdowns in the same season. This was the last victory for head coach Guy Morriss at Kentucky.
Nov. 17
• 1951: Kentucky had a dominating day on the ground, rushing for 416 yards, the third most in school history, in the Wildcat’s convincing 47-13 win over George Washington. Harry Jones rushed for a 91-yard touchdown, the longest running play in school history.
• 1979: Felix Wilson had a career high 157 receiving yards, at the time the third most in school history, as Kentucky thoroughly defeated Florida, 31-3.
• 2001: Sophomore quarterback Jared Lorenzen passed for 406 yards, his third career 400-yard passing game, as the Wildcats lost a heartbreaker to border rival Tennessee, 38-35. The offense was also led by Derek Abney’s 118 receiving yards, his third and final career 100-yard receiving game.
• 2012: Running back Raymond Sanders had a career high 123 rushing yards as Kentucky thoroughly defeated Samford, 34-3.
Nov. 18
• 1950: Kentucky wore out the scoreboard operator, scoring a modern era-record 83 points in the Wildcats’ shutout victory over North Dakota. The offense was led by Al Bruno’s school record four touchdown receptions. Bob Gain, known mostly for his great play as a lineman, set a school record with 10 extra points made. The Wildcats set yet another record with eight touchdown passes. Kentucky did most of their scoring damage in the first half, setting school records for most points scored in a first quarter (21), most points scored in a 2nd quarter (35), and most points scored in a first half (56). The defense helped as well, intercepting the opposing quarterbacks five times, tied for the third most in school history.
• 1961: Kentucky shut out Xavier 9-0 in the last victory for head coach Blanton Collier.
• 1978: Felix Wilson had 129 receiving yards, his first career 100-yard receiving game, as the Wildcats were narrowly defeated by Florida, 18-16. One of Felix’s receptions was an 80-yard touchdown pass from Larry McCrimmon, at the time the second longest passing play in school history.
• 1995: Moe Williams rushed for 151 yards, his thirteenth and final 100-yard rushing game, as Kentucky put up a valiant effort against No. 4 Tennessee but came up short, losing 34-31.
• 2000: Freshman quarterback Jared Lorenzen passed for 328 yards, his eighth career 300-yard passing game, as the Wildcats lost to border rival Tennessee, 59-20. This was the last game at Kentucky for head coach Hal Mumme.
• 2006: Quarterback Andre’ Woodson passed for 359 yards, his third career 300-yard passing game, as Kentucky squeaked out a victory against Lousiana-Monroe, 42-40. The offense was also led by Keenan Burton’s 115 receiving yards, his fifth career 100-yard receiving game. Special teams helped out in the win, with Rafael Little returning a punt 84 yards for a touchdown, tied for the seventh longest punt return in school history.
Nov. 19
• 1955: Bob Dougherty rushed for a career high 103 yards as the Wildcats shut out No. 17 Tennessee, 23-0. This was Kentucky’s first win against a ranked Tennessee squad.
• 1966: Larry Seiple had 151 receiving yards, his fourth and final career 100-yard receiving game, as Kentucky lost to Tennessee, 28-19. One of Larry’s receptions was a 78-yard pass from Terry Beadles, at the time the longest passing play in school history. Dicky Lyons, Jr. added a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown, at the time the fifth longest punt return in school history.
• 1977: Kentucky defeated border rival Tennessee 21-17 to cap off the Wildcats’ only undefeated season in SEC play. It was also Kentucky’s first 10-win season since 1950.
• 1988: Linebacker Chris Chenault was all over the field on defense, recording 24 total tackles, tied for the fourth most in school history, as the Wildcats were narrowly beaten by Tennessee, 28-24.
Nov. 20
• 1976: Kentucky shut out border rival Tennessee 6-0 to secure the Wildcats’ second SEC championship, and their first since 1950.
Nov. 21
• 1953: Kentucky defeated border rival Tennessee 27-21 in the last game under head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. That was Bryant’s 60th career victory at Kentucky, still a school record.
• 1959: Calvin Bird had a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown, at the time the fourth-longest punt return in school history, as the Wildcats shut out No. 20 Tennessee, 20-0.
• 1964: Rick Kestner had 112 receiving yards, his second and final career 100-yard receiving game, as Kentucky defeated Tennessee, 12-7.
• 1987: Kentucky was narrowly defeated by Tennessee 24-22, but the Wildcats had a couple standout performances on offense in their losing effort. Dee Smith had a career high 170 receiving yards, at the time the second most in school history, and Mark Higgs had 137 rushing yards, his ninth and final career 100-yard rushing game.
• 2009: Kentucky defeated Georgia 34-27, overcoming a 14-point deficit twice, for their first win against the Bulldogs in Athens since 1977.
