One of the oldest cliches in sports is that “one play doesn’t define a game.”

That old saying rang especially true in Kentucky football’s 20-17 upset win over then No. 6 Ole Miss. No, in that one, three critical plays decided the game. 

All three of these plays occurred late in the fourth quarter with the first happening after a 3rd-and-7 pass by Brock Vandagriff hit off the hands of Fred Farrier II that would’ve extended the drive. 

Facing a 4th-and-7 on its own 20-yard line, based on recent history, it was assumed that head coach Mark Stoops was going to send out the punting unit and hope to get the ball back with another chance to win.

Instead, to the shock and confusion of many, Vandagriff and the offense trotted back onto the field and lined up in formation. As the play clocked winded down, some thought they may be trying to draw the Rebels offsides for a more manageable fourth down.

As the play clock ticked down, the crowd grew louder as five…. four…. three… snap.

Confirming the decision to go for it, Vandagriff took his three step drop and began scanning the field as a blitz by the Rebels was bearing down on him quickly. As the pressure intensified, he launched a pass deep downfield instead of going for the sticks. 

While the ball flying through the air in reality only took a few seconds, for players, coaches and fans whose heart rates were rapidly accelerating, it must’ve felt like hours.

Ultimately, what goes up must come down and, as the ball got closer to the playing surface, it was Barion Brown’s hands it landed in. 

Brown continued to rush down the sideline as the Wildcats faithful in the crowd erupted. Then he came to a complete stop, juking out two defenders, and continued to dash towards the end zone. He eventually was wrestled short of the goal line, but the damage had been done: 1st-and-10 for Kentucky at the Ole Miss 17-yard line. The longest play for Kentucky’s offense this year.

Following a Demie-Sumo Karngbaye first-down rush of 10-yards, the Wildcats found themselves set up for 1st-and-goal.

After an injury timeout, Vandagriff came onto the field and ran toward the opposite sideline to line up as a receiver while his backup, Gavin Wimsatt, trotted out as the quarterback and lined up in the shotgun.

There was a slight pause before Wimsatt clapped his hands and Eli Cox fired the ball to him. Sumo-Karngbaye ran across Wimsatt to receive the handoff, but it was pulled away by Wimsatt as the Rutgers transfer took the ball and barreled his way into a sea of defenders and teammates jockeying for position.

As Wimsatt lowered his shoulder, the ball popped into the air and a collective gasp echoed out from the otherwise quiet and tense Rebel faithful. Unfortunately for them, they were silenced once again as the ball fell into the hands of tight end Josh Kattus, who leapt into the endzone. 

Touchdown Kentucky, the Cats led 20-17.

Both sidelines were in disbelief as the chaos unfolded, but the emotion was very different. For the Wildcats, it was pure jubilation. For the Rebels, it was a gut punch, leaving them in shock and lifeless. 

When it was all said and done, Ole Miss’ offense took the field with 2:25 left to play in what was still very much a ballgame.

Time ticked down on the Rebels’ chances to remain undefeated, but they were marching down the field and into Kentucky territory. With under a minute to play facing a 4th-and-7, it was decision time for head coach Lane Kiffin. 

Ultimately, after a Kentucky timeout, the field goal unit came onto the field for the Rebels and kicker Caden Davis eyed down the goalpost and swung his foot before walking into position. He started near his holder before taking a few calculated steps backward and to his left. 

Needing 48-yards, the ball was snapped and set into place by the holder as Davis charged towards the ball and struck it with his right foot as a thud echoed through the crowd. 

The ball started on-plane, but quickly flew wide left and into a crowd of devastated fans. 

No good. 

With fans holding their hands over their heads heartbroken, Stoops threw his hands up and had an unerasable grin on his face as that missed field goal signified that the improbable task had just been completed. 

Kentucky’s offense returned to the field one more time in this contest, but it wasn’t in Wildcat formation or shotgun, it was in victory formation. 

Vandagriff’s knee hit the ground just two times before the clock ticked down to zero, which meant what had seemed like the impossible hadn’t just become possible, it had become a reality. 

Kentucky won the football game.