10 to Remember from UK Football's First 600 Wins

This past Saturday, the Kentucky Wildcats traveled down to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and left the Magnolia State with a 24-17 victory over the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss. It was a milestone for the football program, as UK become the 53rd FBS school to reach 600 all-time victories. Over the past 136 years Kentucky has had many memorable victories on the gridiron. In honor of this milestone, let’s take a look back at 10 victories the Big Blue Nation shall forever keep in their memory banks for their historical significance.

Nov. 12, 1881: Kentucky – 7.25 Transylvania – 1 (Victory No. 1)
It’s pretty simple: You can’t get to your 600th victory without getting your first one. Officials from Kentucky University (what is now Transylvania University) issued a challenge to the Agricultural & Mechanical College (what is now the University of Kentucky) of three football games contested between the two schools. The only stipulation was that all participants must be under 17 years old. The first game played between the two schools took place on Transylvania’s Morrison Campus. Kentucky defeated Transylvania, in their football debut, by the odd score of 7.25 to 1. According to The Lexington Press, Kentucky’s squad was “commanded by Capt. Irvine.”

Nov. 19, 1898: Kentucky – 36 Newcastle Athletic Club – 0 (Victory No. 30)
State College (what is now the University of Kentucky) had no trouble whatsoever with the Newcastle Athletic Club, comprised of players from both Centre College and Central University (what is now Eastern Kentucky University), shutting out their opponent, 36-0 in Lexington. The play of the game was a 95-yard touchdown run by Kentucky’s right end Martin. Kentucky was led by captain and quarterback Roscoe Severs. This game secured Kentucky a perfect 7-0 season, with the Wildcats outscoring their opponents by the combined score of 180-0. To this day it remains Kentucky’s only undefeated, untied, and unscored upon team. The squad was given the nickname “The Immortals”.

Jan. 1, 1951: Kentucky – 13 Oklahoma – 7 (Victory No. 289)
The Wildcats were enjoying their best season of the modern era heading into the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, declared SEC Champions with a 10-1 record and a No. 7 ranking in the Associated Press Poll. But Kentucky’s only defeat of the season came in its last game played, on Nov. 25 against Tennessee. The Cats faced a stiff challenge in the bowl game: the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners, riding a 31-game winning streak. Defensive left end Walt Yaworsky, named Sugar Bowl MVP, gave the Oklahoma offense fits, consistently pushing back the Sooners’ offensive line and breaking up passes. It was a fumble recovered by Yowarsky that set up Kentucky’s first score. On the very next play, quarterback Babe Parilli connected with Wilbur Jamerson on a 22-yard touchdown pass. Jamerson added a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to push Kentucky’s lead to 13-0. Yowarsky provided yet another spark, recovering a fumbled punt early in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma scored with seven minutes left in the game, but the Wildcats were able to run out the clock as Kentucky shocked the Sooners, 13-7. Kentucky had ended Oklahoma’s 31-game winning streak, at the time tied for the fifth-longest winning streak in major college football history. It was also the first time ever that Kentucky defeated a team ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll. The Sagarin Ratings later retroactively declared that 1950 Wildcats squad the national champions of college football.

Sep. 26, 1964: Kentucky – 27 Ole Miss – 21 (Victory No. 358)
Kentucky entered its second game of the season with a rather pedestrian 13-6 victory over Detroit in the season opener. The Wildcats traveled down to Jackson, Mississippi, to take on the Rebels of Ole Miss, who were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll. Wildcats’ quarterback Rick Norton had an impressive game, passing for over 200 yards and two touchdowns, also tacking on a rushing touchdown. But two of his three interceptions were returned for touchdowns by the Rebels’ defense. The best individual performance of the game belonged to Kentucky’s wide receiver Rick Kestner. Kestner had nine receptions for 185 and three touchdowns, one of which was a 32-yard halfback pass from Rodger Bird. With the Wildcats trailing 21-20 late in the fourth quarter, Norton connected with Kestner on a 22-yard touchdown pass for the game winner with 2:38 remaining. Kentucky’s defense was no slouch either, forcing the Ole Miss offense to commit five turnovers, two interceptions and three fumbles. This was the second time ever that Kentucky defeated a team ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll.

Oct. 1, 1977: Kentucky – 24 Penn State – 20 (Victory No. 410)
Kentucky entered Happy Valley, Pennsylvania, with a 2-1 record on the season, defeating No. 17 West Virginia 28-13 the previous week in Lexington. The Penn State Nittany Lions entered the game with a 3-0 record and a No. 4 ranking in the AP Poll. The game couldn’t have started much worse for the Wildcats, with Penn State racing out to a quick 10-0 lead in the first quarter. What would be a recurring theme for that season’s team, Kentucky’s defense stepped up when they needed it the most. The Wildcats forced the Nittany Lions into four turnovers, including three interceptions. The first interception was picked off by Dallas Owens and returned 23 yards for Kentucky’s first score. The second interception, this time by Mike Siganos, set up Kentucky’s second touchdown to take the lead. Fullback Chuck Servino ran into the endzone from one yard out four plays after the turnover. Penn State scored the final 10 points of the second quarter, and took a 20-14 lead into halftime. The Wildcats tacked on a field goal early in the second half to cut their deficit to three points, 20-17. Then, with 1:09 left in the third quarter, quarterback Derrick Ramsey scored the game winner on a one-yard touchdown run, giving the Wildcats the 24-20 victory. The defense held Penn State scoreless in the second half after giving up 20 points in the first 30 minutes. This still remains the highest ranked team that Kentucky has ever defeated in a true road game.

Oct. 4, 1997: Kentucky – 40 Alabama – 34 (Overtime) (Victory No. 502)
The Wildcats welcomed the No. 20 Alabama Crimson Tide into Lexington for a big October night home game. Kentucky had a 2-2 record entering the game, losing to No. 1 Florida 55-28 the previous week. Alabama was 3-1 on the season entering the contest. The Wildcats had little success against Alabama in their previous meetings, compiling a 1-31-1 record. Kentucky’s Air Raid offense had an explosive play in the first quarter, a 62-yard touchdown pass from Tim Couch to Derek Homer, to take a 10-7 heading into the second quarter. The Wildcats’ Seth Hanson successfully made a 30-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to cut their deficit to one point, 14-13. Couch added a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter, six yards to Anthony White and 14 yards to Kevin Coleman, to give Kentucky a 27-24 lead heading into the fourth quarter. After Alabama scored early in the quarter to retake the lead, Kentucky responded with a great special teams play. With the Crimson Tide attempting a field goal to expand their lead to seven points, David Ginn blocked the kick and Anwar Stewart returned the blocked kick 68 yards for a touchdown. Alabama made a field goal with eight seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. The Wildcats’ defense stepped up in the overtime period. On Alabama’s first possession, Chad Goss forced a fumble which Jeremy Bowie recovered for Kentucky. On the Wildcats’ first possession, facing a third down and 11, Couch connected with Craig Yeast for the game-winning 26-yard touchdown pass. Immediately the fans rushed the field and tore down the goalpost. It was just the second time that Kentucky had ever defeated Alabama, and the first time that the Wildcats had defeated the Crimson Tide in 75 years.

Oct. 13, 2007: Kentucky – 43 LSU – 37 (Three Overtimes) (Victory No. 551)
Kentucky entered the LSU game with a 5-1 record, the best start to a season since 1984, and ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll. LSU was a perfect 6-0 heading into the game and ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll. The Wildcats began the scoring late in the first quarter when a deflected pass from Andre’ Woodson fell into the hands of T. C. Drake in the end zone, giving Kentucky the early 7-0 lead. The Tigers responded, scoring the game’s next 17 points. Woodson scored on a 12-yard touchdown run to close out the scoring in the first half, with Kentucky trailing 17-14 at the break. After a Colt David 30-yard field goal with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter, LSU had its largest lead of the game, 27-14. But the Wildcats didn’t back down and mounted a furious rally. The comeback was complete when Lones Seiber successfully made a 27-yard field goal with 4:21 remaining in the game to tie up the score, 27-27. The game went into overtime at the same score. Both teams traded short touchdown runs in the first overtime. Both teams then traded field goals in the second overtime. Kentucky had the ball first in the third overtime. On the eighth play of the drive, facing a third and goal on the seven yard line, Woodson found Stevie Johnson in the end zone to take the lead, 43-37. On LSU’s ensuing possession, the Tigers gave the ball to Jacob Hester on their first three plays. On fourth down and two, Charles Scott received the handoff and was stuffed by Braxton Kelley, one yard short of the first down marker. Fans rushed the field as Kentucky had successfully completed the comeback, defeating a team ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for the third time in school history, and the first time ever in Lexington.

Oct. 17, 2009: Kentucky – 21 Auburn – 14 (Victory No. 563)
The Wildcats entered Auburn in a slump, losing their last three games after winning their first two games of the season. The Tigers were 5-1 heading into the game, losing to Arkansas in the previous week. A special teams miscue led to Auburn striking first in the game. Kentucky’s Lones Seiber lined up to attempt a 38-yard field goal, but Jake Ricks blocked the kick and Neiko Thorpe returned the blocked kick 69 yards for a touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The Wildcats clawed back, scoring on a four-yard touchdown run by Morgan Newton with 9:02 left in the first half. Auburn scored late in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run to take a 14-7 lead into the locker room. Both teams failed to score in the third quarter, but Kentucky’s rushing attack came to life in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats found success inserting Will Fidler at quarterback and letting Randall Cobb take snaps out of the Wildcat formation. Fidler scored a two-yard touchdown run with 6:29 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 14. After an Auburn three-and-out, the Wildcats got the ball back with 5:08 left in the game. Then came the play of the game for Kentucky. Facing a second and six on the 36 yard line, Cobb took a snap out of the wildcat and scampered 61 yards down the sideline, finally being pushed out of bounds at the three-yard line. Three plays later Cobb ran into the end zone from four yards out for the game winner with 3:17 left in the game. This was just the second time ever that Kentucky had defeated Auburn in Auburn, and the first time since 1961.

Oct. 16, 2010: Kentucky – 31 South Carolina – 28 (Victory No. 571)
Kentucky was limping into its traditional October night home game against South Carolina, losing its last three games after winning the first three. The Gamecocks were 4-1 and ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll, defeating No. 1 Alabama the week before. The game didn’t go according to plan as South Carolina completely dominated the first half, outgaining Kentucky 357-135 in total offense. When Marcus Lattimore scored on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Stephen Garcia with 2:03 left in the second quarter, the Gamecocks took a commanding 18-point lead into halftime, 28-10. It initially looked as though the second half wouldn’t be that different of a story, with Kentucky going three-and-out on its first offensive possession of the third quarter. The Wildcats didn’t give up though, and they started to chip away at South Carolina’s lead. Kentucky had a methodical, 14-play, 95-yard drive capped off by a five-yard touchdown pass from Mike Hartline to La’Rod King, cutting South Carolina’s lead to 28-17. On the Wildcats’ next possession, they had more of a quick-strike drive, covering 76 yards in eight plays, with Hartline connecting with Chris Matthews on a 38-yard touchdown pass, and suddenly the Gamecocks’ lead was only five points, 28-23. Kentucky could get nothing going on their next drive, resulting in a three-and-out. The Wildcats got the ball back midway through the fourth quarter, still trailing South Carolina by five points. Starting on its own 32-yard line, Kentucky made it to the South Carolina 24-yard line in 11 plays, but faced a fourth down and seven. Miraculously, Hartline found Randall Cobb in the endzone on a 24-yard touchdown strike, and the comeback was complete, defeating the Gamecocks 31-28. Trailing by 18 points as late as the third quarter, this is the greatest comeback in school history. Matthews stood out on offense, hauling in 12 receptions for 177 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Nov. 26, 2011: Kentucky – 10 Tennessee – 7 (Victory No. 578)
The Wildcats entered their Thanksgiving weekend game against Tennessee with a 4-7 record, losing to No. 13 Georgia 19-10 in the previous week. The Volunteers had a 5-6 record, defeating Vanderbilt 27-21 the week before. Kentucky had a challenge on its hands though under center. Both Morgan Newton and Maxwell Smith had injuries to their throwing shoulders, so the Wildcats turned to none other than senior wide receiver Matt Roark to start at quarterback for this game. Catching the Volunteers’ defense off guard with an option attack, Kentucky’s first offensive drive resulted in points, a 24-yard field goal by Craig McIntosh. Kentucky led 3-0 with 4:46 left in the first quarter. After that it was a defensive struggle between the two schools, with neither team scoring in the second and third quarters. Late in the third quarter the Wildcats started a drive that started to move the chains. Eight plays into the drive CoShik Williams ran into the end zone from six yards out and Kentucky took a 10-0 lead with 14:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. Tennessee responded rapidly, connecting on a 53-yard touchdown pass a little over a minute later, and the Wildcats’ lead was now 10-7 with 12:52 left in the game. But that is all that Kentucky’s defense would give up, forcing Tennessee into consecutive three-and-out drives. On the Vols’ last attempt to tie the game or take the lead, quarterback Tyler Bray’s pass on fourth and 17 was intercepted by Taiedo Smith. The Wildcats ran out the clock on the ensuing drive and the Big Blue Nation rushed the field. This was Kentucky’s first victory against Tennessee since 1984, ending a streak of 26 consecutive defeats to the Volunteers. Roark had a gutsy performance for Kentucky, rushing for 124 yards.