COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Kentucky coach Will Stein held up two fingers on the sidelines after his team’s overtime touchdown, letting the Wildcats know his intention to end things right away.
asserted
Wildcats → hold → things
Strong safety Ty Bryant hinted he knew his coach’s intentions a few days earlier.
asserted
he → hint → intentions
Bryant, a senior, usually sits in on staff meetings late in the week.
asserted
Bryant → sit → week
“I’m not going to tell you what (Stein) said,” Bryant continued.
asserted
Bryant → go → what
“He’s aggressive.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
I’m good with that.
asserted
I → ’m → that
So were all connected with No. 24 Kentucky (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) after Kenny Minchey’s 6-yard TD pass to Henry Boyer and successful 2-point pass to Willie Rodriguez at the back of the end zone gave the Wildcats a 35-34 OT win at South Carolina after trailing 17-0.
asserted
pass → connect → Carolina
“We just felt the momentum South Carolina had taken at the end of regulation,” Stein said.
asserted
Stein → feel → regulation
“We needed to go for two.
asserted
We → need → two
That’s what we did.
asserted
we → ’ → what
Kentucky’s players exploded in celebration, spilling onto the field after a second major road win for first-year coach Stein, who’s team beat then-ninth-ranked Texas A&M 31-21 at College Station two weeks ago.
asserted
team → explode → Station
And now, Kentucky gets to dream of even bigger things and a special season in Stein’s debut when it faces No. 11 LSU at home next Saturday.
asserted
it → get → home
“Oh, it’s going to mean a lot,” freshman receiver Kenny Darby said.
asserted
Darby → go → lot
“But I’m not going to worry about that.
asserted
I → go → that
I’m ready to celebrate.”
asserted
I → ’m → ?
The Wildcats needed to fight back several times.
asserted
Wildcats → need → ?
Minchey’s 32-yard scoring pass to Nic Anderson late in the third quarter gave them their first lead, 24-20.
asserted
pass → give → lead
And after South Carolina retook the lead in the fourth quarter on LaNorris Sellers’ 15-yard TD pass to DJ Black, Minchey led a 66-yard drive that ended with Adam Zouagui’s 29-yard tying field goal with 4:13 to play.
asserted
that → retake → 4:13
Sellers again moved his team in front in overtime on a 5-yard throw to Maurice Brown II in the end zone.
asserted
Sellers → move → zone
But after Minchey’s pass to Boyer, Kentucky didn’t hesitate and connected on the winning points.
asserted
Kentucky → hesitate → points
Sellers passed for 226 yards and two scores.
asserted
Sellers → pass → yards
He also ran for 147 yards, including a twisting 74-yard run that set up his TD throw to Black in the final quarter.
asserted
that → run → quarter
But it wasn’t enough as the Gamecocks (2-3, 0-3) lost their eighth straight in SEC play.
asserted
Gamecocks → lose → play
They were also without star defensive end Dylan Stewart and a projected top-10 NFL draft pick, who was suspended by the school and the SEC for throwing a punch late in a 49-18 loss to the Crimson Tide last week.
asserted
who → project → Tide
The Wildcats have done several good things early in the season as Stein became the first first-year Kentucky coach to win a true road game at Texas A&M.
asserted
Stein → do → A&M.
This latest rally will only make things crazier for his program as he heads deeper into SEC play.
asserted
he → make → play
It was a week of looked-up contract buyouts for coach Shane Beamer as many wondered how much longer the team could endure losing in the SEC.
uncertain
team → look → SEC
That won’t stop given the SEC losing streak and the fact they were up 16-0 on Mississippi State two weeks ago before falling 41-34.
asserted
they → stop → State
The pressure will certainly ramp up on South Carolina’s Beamer, and there were several boos headed his way as walked off the field.
asserted
pressure → ramp → field
He understands the bottom line is he and his team must win to ensure he remains in charge of the program.
asserted
he → understand → program
“We’re not here for moral victories,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → victories
“I’m proud of the way they competed and the way they responded.
asserted
they → ’m → way
But ultimately you’re judged on wins and losses.
asserted
you → judge → wins
Up next
Kentucky returns home to play No. 11 LSU next Saturday night.
asserted
Kentucky → return → LSU
South Carolina goes to No. 8 Florida next Saturday.
asserted
Carolina → go → Florida
The Aporia
