Football

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Rafael Little ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns, and Kentucky ended Vanderbilt’s hopes of becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1982 with a 48-43 win Saturday.

The Commodores (4-6, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) trailed 34-10 at halftime, but three touchdown catches by Earl Bennett in the fourth quarter – he had five for the game – got them within five.

Jay Cutler threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Bennett with 2:29 left, but Vanderbilt failed on its 2-point conversion try and Kentucky (3-6, 2-4) was able to hang on for the win.

Bennett also caught touchdown passes of 5 and 13 yards in the final quarter, along with scoring grabs of 2 and 13 yards earlier in the game.

After a 33-yard field goal by Bryant Hahnfeldt put the Commodores up 3-0 early in the first quarter, Kentucky scored 34 straight points to seemingly take control of the game. When Vanderbilt’s Cassen Jackson-Garrison ran for a 35-yard score with under two minutes to go in the third, it cut Kentucky’s lead to 48-24.

The Wildcats began to take control after Arliss Beach’s 1-yard touchdown run gave them an early 7-3 lead. Quarterback Andre’ Woodson added a 7-yard touchdown run, and Hahnfeldt had a 46-yard field goal attempt blocked and Bo Smith returned it for a score to make it 21-3.

Vanderbilt’s only put together two meaningful drives in the first half. The first came during Vanderbilt’s first drive of the game as Cutler had runs of 7 and 11 yards, setting up Hahnfeldt’s field goal.

The second came near the end of the half when Cutler threw a 13-yard TD pass to Bennett with 1:34 left. Cutler, who had 12 incomplete passes in the first half, also completed another 13-yarder to Bennett and a 22-yard pass to George Smith during the drive.

Cutler finished 39-of-66 for 396 yards and the five touchdown passes to Bennett.

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