Story and Photo from ukathletics.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Benny Snell, Jr. rushed for four touchdowns to break a Kentucky career record, including two in the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats held No. 14 Mississippi State to 56 yards rushing for a 28-7 upset Saturday night.
After Tyrell Ajian’s 35-yard interception return to the Bulldogs 36, Snell broke left and down the left sideline for his third score with 8 minutes remaining to break Randall Cobb’s previous mark of 37 total touchdowns.
The junior wasn’t done and added a 23-yard TD run on the next possession for 21-point cushion the Wildcats (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) preserved for their second win over a ranked school this month. Kentucky beat then-No. 25 Florida two weeks ago to break a 31-game losing streak to the Gators.
Snell also had TD runs of 1 and 2 yards to finish with 165 on 25 carries, his 15th career 100-yard game. His four rushing TDs also matched a school record he shares with Don Phelps. Kentucky rushed for 229 overall and outgained the Bulldogs 300-201 under a steady drizzle.
MSU (3-1, 0-1) was held nearly 256 rushing yards below its SEC-leading average of 311.7 coming in. The Bulldogs only managed Nick Fitzgerald’s 1-yard TD run midway through the second quarter.
“I think we played hard in all three phases,” first-year Bulldogs coach Joe Moorhead said. “We just didn’t execute with the precision we needed to beat a team of Kentucky’s caliber.”
HONORING SHEMWELL
A moment of silence was held before the game to honor Marco Lee Shemwell, 4, who was struck and killed outside Kroger Field by a car driven by a Kentucky freshman following last week’s game against Murray State. Jacob Heil, 18, was charged with DUI on Monday. The school suspended him and his fraternity.