October 3, 1998
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas cornerback David Barrett stole a glance atKentucky quarterback Tim Couch and then he stole a pass.
Barrett turned Couch’s first mistake of the night into a 62-yardinterception return and Clint Stoerner threw two fourth-quarter touchdownpasses as No. 22 Arkansas rallied to beat Kentucky 27-20 Saturday night.
Kentucky (3-2, 0-2 SEC) led 20-7 early in the third quarter, but Couchtelegraphed a pass that Barrett intercepted. His return set up Stoerner’s13-yard pass to Anthony Lucas that tied it at 20 in the opening minute of thefinal period.
“I happened to see Couch turn my way,” Barrett said. “I just gambled. Itturned out I gambled correct.”
“It was huge,” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “It turned the wholegame.”
“That one play changed the game,” Couch said.
Kentucky coach Hal Mumme took the blame for the interception. “I had ablitz route called and they were in zone coverage,” he said.
On Kentucky’s next drive, Couch – who broke his own SEC records with 47completions and 66 attempts – threw behind his receiver on third down andArkansas (4-0, 2-0) moved 63 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
On third down from the 10, Stoerner rolled left and threw back to the rightto a wide-open Hubert Loudermilk in the end zone. Stoerner finished 13-of-27for 199 yards.
Couch mounted one last rally, driving the Wildcats to the Arkansas 13 on a21-yard pass to Gary Davis with 12 seconds to play. Ontraia Moss broke up hisfirst-down pass in the end zone and his second-down pass was high off the handsof Kevin Coleman on the final play of the game.
“I was getting ready for overtime and in the meantime, you’re praying wecan get through the last seconds,” Nutt said.
Through the first 35 minutes, Couch completed 24 of 35 for 282 yards andthree touchdowns. His TD passes ended drives that covered 85, 80 and 67 yards.He finished with a personal high 499 yards, but did not produce a point in thefinal 24 1/2 minutes.
“When they had 20 points after their first possession of the third quarter,I never dreamed we would hold them without another point,” Nutt said.
“That quarterback is the best besides Clint Stoerner,” Nutt said.”Stoerner is a fighter, a competitor, a winner. His hand was bothering him,but he’s a soldier and he plays hurt. You can’t take him off the field.”
Stoerner, who complained of numbness in his right hand after a blow to hiselbow, said he lost his poise and confidence in the first half. He alsosuffered his first interception after 134 passes.
Arkansas had first downs at the Kentucky 9, 5 and 12 and settled for fieldgoal attempts – one was blocked and two were good – before Stoerner’s pass toLucas slanting from the left side. Safety David Johnson hit Lucas at the 5, buthe bounced off and fought his way into the end zone.
Kentucky led 14-7 at the half and widened the margin on its first possessionof the third quarter. On third down at the Arkansas 40, the Razorbacks showedblitz and Couch completed a 25-yard pass to Quentin McCord.
A pass to James Whalen, plus a personal foul and a pass interference movedthe ball to the 2. On second down, a defender got caught inside and LanceMickelsen was wide open for the touchdown.
By HARRY KING
AP Sports Writer
