Coach Will Stein went for it all in overtime, and his Kentucky Wildcats pulled off one of the wildest finishes we have seen this season, securing a 35-34 victory over South Carolina with a gutsy two-point conversion that immediately ended the game. This wasn’t just a win, folks, it was the largest road comeback in program history, proving that Stein’s first-year team has some serious resolve.
Stein Rolls the Dice and Wins Big
When South Carolina scored first in overtime, with LaNorris Sellers connecting with Maurice Brown for a five-yard touchdown and the extra point, the Gamecocks were up 34-27. Kentucky needed a touchdown just to stay alive. Kenny Minchey delivered, finding Henry Boyer for a six-yard score, bringing the Wildcats within one. That’s when Stein had his moment of truth. Kick the extra point and play another round of overtime, or go for the two-point conversion and end it right there, for better or worse? He didn’t blink. He asked his offense to finish the job. Minchey rewarded that confidence, hitting Willie Rodriguez in the back of the end zone for the game-winning two points. Seriously, who calls that? Stein did, and it paid off huge. As he put it afterward, according to LEX 18, “A band of brothers came to Columbia, South Carolina for the win,” and they absolutely earned it on that final snap.
From Down and Out to Program History
Before that dramatic overtime decision, Kentucky had to claw its way back from a massive deficit. South Carolina jumped out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter, and things looked bleak for the No. 24 Wildcats. But this team just wouldn’t quit. A C.J. Baxter touchdown run and an Adam Zouagui field goal helped them get back within reach, though they still trailed 20-10 at halftime. The second half saw them really turn it on. Minchey connected with freshman Kenny Darby for a 17-yard touchdown early in the third, and later in the period, a 32-yard touchdown pass to Nic Anderson actually gave Kentucky its first lead of the day, 24-20! South Carolina managed to regain the advantage, but Zouagui’s 29-yard field goal tied the game at 27 with 4:14 left in regulation. They erased a huge deficit, lost the lead, and then fought back to force overtime. What a rollercoaster!
Kentucky now sits at a strong 4-1 overall record, and 2-1 in SEC play, with two big road wins under their belt this season already, including one at Texas A&M. South Carolina, on the other hand, falls to 2-3 overall and is struggling in the conference at 0-3. With this kind of resilience and a coach who isn’t afraid to go for it all, this Kentucky squad is definitely one to watch as the season unfolds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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