The Kentucky Wildcats traveled to College Station, Texas to take on the Texas A&M Aggies, where they were defeated 20-14 in overtime. 

Even without Kentucky’s starting middle linebacker Kash Daniel, who had to sit out the first half due to a targeting penalty against South Carolina, both defenses were solid to start. Kentucky scored at the end of the first quarter, while the Cats’ defense held the Aggies scoreless until the end of the second.

Kentucky’s first scoring drive started with 3:32 left in the first quarter, after the defense forced a three-and-out against the Aggies. Running back AJ Rose kept the ball on the first three downs of the drive. A Terry Wilson three-yard keeper on first down set up second and seven, when a Wilson pass was complete to Lynn Bowden good for 54 yards and a touchdown. After Miles Butler’s kick was good, the Cats led 7-0.

Texas A&M’s run defense is one of the best in the country and held Kentucky to just four yards of offense in the second quarter. Benny Snell was limited to just 23 yards on six carries in the whole first half.

The Aggies scored late in the second quarter on a 13-play, 70-yard drive in which quarterback Kellen Mond found Quartney Davis for three yards for a touchdown and tied the game up with the extra point.

Through the end of the third quarter, the Cats only had 145 yards of offense and were 2-for-9 on third downs.

The Cats came up with a big play in the fourth quarter on an interception by Darius West, but didn’t capitalize. Kentucky went three-and-out and punted on fourth down to Kentucky’s 48-yard line. The following possession led to an A&M touchdown.

Nearing the end of the fourth quarter, the Cats’ defense came up big with a West fumble recovery in which he ran 40 yards for a touchdown. Butler’s extra point gave the Cats a 14-7 lead.

The Aggies couldn’t execute on third down on their next possession, giving Kentucky the ball again with 2:13 left in the game. On third down of that drive, Wilson was sacked on third down for a loss of nine, fumbled the ball and was recovered by Snell. Kentucky was forced to punt, but with little time on the clock, the game was sent to overtime. 

Texas A&M won the coin toss and chose to be on defense first, which gave the Cats the ball. Wilson was sacked on third down which set Kentucky back eight yards, bringing out Butler who would miss the field goal.

Texas A&M would go on to win the game in overtime on a Trayveon Williams 10-yard rush for a touchdown. 

The Cats are back in action on October 20th at home against Vanderbilt.