Did that really just happen?

I was pretty sure it did, because I was out celebrating what I thought was a UK win (that’s the reason for the lateness of this recap). When I got back though, ESPN2 was showing a replay of UK-Georgia from Saturday night…it did actually happen.

It wasn’t one of UK’s best 60 minute performances of the PawPaw era, but it was certainly one of the gutsiest. You don’t win an SEC road game while being outgained by 217 yards without some serious heart (and luck and help). By the way, for those of you counting out there, does three straight SEC road wins constitute the “step forward” we are always looking for from our ‘Cats?

The game didn’t exactly start the right way for a UK win. Kentucky did take an early 6-0 lead, but that deficit was erased quickly by a quick strike Georgia attack and a stalling one by UK. Joker Phillips was hesitant to have his freshman QB push the ball downfield, and when he tried to, the Georgia pressure got to him. Instead, they mostly stuck with the running game, biding their time as UGA built up a 20-6 halftime lead. I’m not sure about the final total yardage tally for the half, but Georgia had over 250 yards and UK didn’t even have 50.

Obviously, the yardage numbers tell you that it could have been much, much worse after 30 minutes. Luckily, the Kentucky defense pulled its signature move a couple times in the half, holding Georgia to field goals after long drives.

It looked like the second half would be a boring one. Georgia would pound it out for the most part, and UK wouldn’t be able to make any kind of a run from behind. The tone, though, changed very quickly when Georgia return man Branden Smith was popped by Moncell Allen and Matt Roark fell on the ball deep in Georgia territory. I looked at the scoreboard (and tried to look at the clock, but it wasn’t working) and thought “we score here and we’re only down a score, interesting.”

UK needed to punch it in to have any chance, so was there any question who was going to get the ball? Randall Cobb took two snaps out of the Wildcat formation (I refuse to call it the WildCobb), scoring on a 10 yard dash to make things interesting. It was the first of two times that Randall Cobb got in the end zone and added to his growing legend. How about the face time for the traveling Legend of Cobb sign?

UK and Georgia traded punts on the next two series while converting a couple first downs, then Georgia reclaimed its two touchdown lead with two deep balls by Joe Cox, the second of which was a touchdown to Rantavious Wooten. The ‘Cats were right back where they had started the half and they needed a score with time quickly passing in the 3rd quarter.

Georgia then decided to help out a bit with a squib kickoff that Ross Bogue took all the way back past midfield. Mark Richt clearly didn’t want to let Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb beat him in the kick return game, but instead he just gave UK good field position every time they kicked off.

Following the kickoff, UK moved the ball down close to the red zone with the running game and help from a pass interference penalty on a Gene McCaskill throw to Chris Matthews. On a 2nd and 7, Morgan Newton made one of the best plays of his young career, lofting a pass under pressure to fellow first year player and quickly emerging La’Rod King who snagged it with one hand and took it in for a 21 yard score.

The teams then traded punts before UK got the ball back with 14:32 left in the game on their own 36 yard line. UK got a first down on a pass from Newton to Nick Melillo, who saw his first significant time Saturday night. After a second down holding call, it looked like the drive would stall. On the next play, Joker dialed up a screen pass to Derrick Locke, who went nearly untouched for the tying score. Locke scored two receiving touchdowns last night and is quickly making the case for the creation of a Legend of Locke sign.

On the following drive, UK quickly forced a 3rd and 9, and under pressure, Joe Cox lobbed a screen pass that DT Shane McCord picked off and took to the UGA 8. UK again dialed up Randall Cobb’s number, and Cobb took it in the end zone from a yard out on his third try to give UK the lead.

From that point forward, it was on the UK defense. They had to make 3 separate stands to win the game and they did it, but not without a nervous moment or two, particularly when Georgia had a 1st and goal on the 6, 2nd and goal on the 6, and 3rd and goal on the 1. Georgia running back Washaun Ealey fumbled a short Joe Cox pitch, and Danny Trevathan got to the ball.

UK couldn’t convert a first down on the ensuing drive, so Georgia had one last chance from their own 47 with 1:52 left. Big Play Sam Maxwell was there again with an interception of Joe Cox. One first down on a run by Derrick Locke and the ‘Cats had the win.

What a huge win it was too. I don’t buy into the talk that it’s quite in the category of the LSU win of 2007, but this was a key win for the program. Three SEC road wins in a row is amazing and when you think about how close UK was to winning at South Carolina, you realize Kentucky could very easily have gone unbeaten on the road in SEC play. Normally that kind of record is reserved for teams in contention for the national title.

UK now plays host to Tennessee in an even bigger game. At stake is second place in the SEC East and a likely spot in the Chick-Fil-A or Outback Bowl. By the way, I would not rule out the black jerseys for next weekend in front of what is sure to be a great crowd.

Tennessee does not have nearly the offense that Georgia does, but UT’s defense is close to the same level as Florida and Alabama. It will be a challenge, so hopefully the ‘Cats can heal up with a nice Thanksgiving meal and get ready for the Vols.