NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Craig Yeast returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown andhauled in a 25-yard scoring catch as Kentucky posted its firstSoutheastern Conference road win of the season, 21-10 overVanderbilt.
Yeast gave Kentucky (5-5, 2-5 SEC) a 7-0 lead 9:05 into thesecond quarter with a 25-yard touchdown catch from Tim Couch andmade it 14-3 with his 97-yard kickoff return, the third-longestin school history.
The junior receiver had a 95-yard kickoff return for a TD lastseason and an 85-yard punt return for a score against SouthCarolina on October 11th. Yeast, who had six receptions for 73yards, broke school season records for receiving yardage (784)and total touchdowns (12) and extended his career and seasonrecords for receptions.
The Wildcats snapped a two-game losing streak and won inNashville for the first time since 1989. Vanderbilt (3-7, 0-7)has dropped four straight games overall and three in a row toKentucky, but still leads the all-time series, 35-31-4.
Damian Allen drew Vanderbilt within 14-10 with 7:07 to go in thethird quarter when he connected with Tavarus Hogans for a55-yard score. Allen finished 16-of-32 for 211 yards with threeinterceptions and moved past John Gromos into fourth place onthe school’s all-time passing yardage list (3,683).
Kentucky’s Derek Homer provided a big insurance touchdown with7:16 remaining with a 31-yard run. Couch, who entered the gameranked second in the nation in total offense and passingyardage, was 17-for-36 for just 168 yards.
The Wildcats were ranked first nationally in passing offense andthird in total offense, while the Commodores entered sixth intotal defense.