West Virginia 20, Kentucky 16
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| W. Virginia | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | – | 20 |
| Kentucky | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | – | 16 |
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WV – Woodside, 39 FG 3:54-1Q UK – Jenkins, 26 pass from Mayes (Hutcherson PAT) 10:59-2Q UK – Hutcherson, 32 FG 0: 38-2Q WV -Hollins, 16 pass from Hostetler (Woodside PAT) 11:10-3Q WV – Bennett, 2 pass from Hostetler (Woodside PAT) 11:15-4Q WV – Woodside, 23 FG 9:18-4Q UK – Phillips, 13 pass from Ransdell (PAT missed) 5:50-4Q Attendance – 42,000 |
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Dec. 22, 1983
– Kentucky won much of the statistical battle but lost the war in dropping a tough 20-16 decision to the West Virginia Mountaineers in the 1983 Hall of Fame Bowl in Birmingham.
The Wildcats, in a bowl for the first time since 1976, outgained West Virginia 306-288 in total offense and held the edge in first downs 19-18 and passing yards 216-88. But 17 second-half points by West Virginia were too much for the Wildcats to overcome.
West Virginia scratched first as placekicker Paul Woodside connected on a 39-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
Kentucky countered with 10 points in the second stanza to take a 10-3 lead at halftime.The Wildcats marched 54 yards in eight plays for their first score. Facing a third-and-three from the WV 26, Kentucky used some razzle-dazzle as Tony Mayes swept right, then threw-back to quarterback Randy Jenkins in the left corner of the endzone for the TD. John Hutcherson added the PAT and UK led 7-3 with 10:59 left in the second period.
Jenkins hit two big passes late in the second quarter to help set up a 32-yard field goal by Hutcherson. Jenkins connected with Joe Phillips for a 19-yard pass play and then hit George Adams for a 14-yarder as Hutcherson connected with 38 seconds left in the half.
WVU kicker Paul Woodside fooled everyone to begin the second half. Woodside tried an on-side kick to start the half and then recovered it to give the Mountaineers the football at the UK 48. Eight plays later, QB Jeff Hostetler found Rich Hollins for a 16-yard TD strike. Woodside added the PAT and it was 10-10 with 11:10 left in the third quarter.
West Virginia scored twice in a span of two minutes early in the fourth quarter to take a commanding 20-10 lead. Hostetler capped off a 10-play, 81-yard drive with a 2-yard scoring toss to Rob Bennett to make it 17-10 with 11:15 left to play.
Two plays later, West Virginia took over after an interception of a Jenkins pass at the UK 16. The interception set up a 23-yard field goal by Woodside as the Mountaineers went up 20-10 with 9:18 remaining.
Kentucky freshman quarterback Bill Ransdell led the Wildcats back, marching UK 92 yards in 11 plays following the kickoff. Ransdell hit Phillips for a 13-yard scoring toss to make it 20-16 with 5:50 left. Hutcherson missed the PAT.
The Wildcats got one more shot, but could get no further than the UK 37.
