A late fourth-down stop propelled Tennessee into the win column Saturday night.
The Volunteers had to hang on to pick up a key road victory as they outlasted Kentucky, 45-42, in a Southeastern Conference game at Kroger Field in Lexington.
On the Wildcats’ last offensive play, quarterback Will Levis’ pass fell incomplete on a fourth-and-10 play.
The Vols (5-4, 3-3 SEC) had a 45-35 lead late in the third quarter after Hendon Hooker threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman with 11 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the game.
The Wildcats (6-3, 4-3 SEC), who have now lost three consecutive games, pulled to within 45-42 when Levis connected with Izayah Cummings with 9:36 left.
The Vols squandered a chance to extend their advantage when Chase McGrath missed a 35-yard field goal with 4:42 left.
Tennessee, which led 24-21 at halftime as McGrath kicked a 43-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter, started fast as Hooker connected with JaVonta Payton from 75 yards out just 11 seconds into the game.
The Wildcats would answer with a long scoring drive capped off when Kavosiey Smoke caught a 9-yard pass from Levis, who finished 31-for-49 for 344 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
The Vols came up with another quick strike a short time later when Hooker threw a 72-yard pass to Velus Jones Jr.
Kentucky again pulled even on Levis’ 8-yard touchdown run, making the score 14-14 with 10:23 left in the second stanza.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the contest when Levis threw a 3-yard touchdown to Justin Rigg to make it 21-14.
The Vols closed out the half by scoring 10 unanswered points as Hooker, who went 15-for-20 with 316 yards and four touchdowns, connected with Jacob Warren from 18 yards out before McGrath put the Vols ahead.
Kentucky took a 28-24 lead on the first series of the second half as Levis made it 28-24 with a 2-yard scoring plunge at the 9:56 mark.
The Vols, however, would answer in rapid fashion as Jabari Small had a 37-yard touchdown scamper just 45 seconds later.
Tennessee’s defense would allow the Vols to take a 38-28 lead when Alontae Taylor intercepted a pass from Levis and returned 55 yards for a score to make it 38-28.
The Wildcats’ Wan’Dale Robinson had a 15-yard scoring reception late in the third frame to pull Kentucky to within 38-35.
The Vols’ defense, which enured its share of struggles Saturday, received a pair of late sacks by Byron Young to help seal the victory.
[vertical-gallery id=28916]