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Kentucky KOs No. 1 LSU; Poll Shakeup Is On Tap

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The Associated Press

Published: October 14, 2007

LEXINGTON, Ky. - As a blue stream of Kentucky fans poured from the stands to celebrate the Wildcats' biggest victory in decades, Andre Woodson was in the middle of the party calmly talking about taking down No. 1 LSU.

'It proved we're a team that obviously earns a lot more respect now,' Woodson said after No. 17 Kentucky upset the Tigers 43-37 in triple overtime Saturday. 'We've come a long way from being a doormat in the SEC to competing with the best teams in the SEC and getting some wins.'

The Wildcats became the latest team to shake up the national title race and the first in nearly four years to take down the top-ranked team in the regular season.

Woodson found Steve Johnson open in the end zone for a 7-yard score in the third extra period. The 2-point conversion, required after two overtimes, failed but it didn't matter.

With a chance to win it, LSU couldn't get a first down on four straight running plays. Charles Scott was stopped by Braxton Kelley a yard short on fourth-and-2.

'He came out of nowhere,' said Scott, who came off the field in tears. 'I thought I was close.'

Close but not enough and Kentucky (6-1, 2-1 SEC) had its first victory against a No. 1 team since 1964, when it beat Mississippi.

'We are shocked,' LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith said. 'Anytime you lose, it hurts. We just have to keep our heads up.'

Kelley called it another clutch play from an underdog in a season of surprises.

'Football is football,' Kelley said. 'Each player has the drive to make plays, and all around the nation right now, people are doing that.'

However, Kentucky topped them all by toppling No. 1.

No highly ranked team seems to be safe this season. It started with Appalachian State knocking off No. 5 Michigan in Week 1. In the previous two weeks, nine teams ranked in the top 10 have lost, including No. 2 USC falling 24-23 to Stanford last week.

No. 1 had been safe though, until now, the day before the first Bowl Championship Series standings come out.

The last time a No. 1 team was beaten during the regular season was Dec. 6, 2003, when Kansas State upset top-ranked Oklahoma 35-7 for the Big 12 title.

Another group of Wildcats pulled it off this time, led by a Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback.

Woodson wasn't sharp early but completed 21 of 38 passes for 250 yards, throwing for three TDs and running in another. He largely had to carry the load with top rusher Rafael Little sidelined with a bruised thigh.

On the final touchdown, Johnson was wide open because defender Jonathan Zenon tripped and fell down. Woodson double-pumped before firing a strike.

'Whenever it starts to look dark, that's when they dig down and find something extra,' Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said.

LSU (6-1, 3-1) became No. 1 two weeks ago for the first time since 1959. In its first game as the No. 1 team in 48 years, LSU escaped with a 28-24 win against Florida last week when Jacob Hester scored on a 2-yard run with less than a minute left.

'I don't think we were good,' LSU coach Les Miles said. 'I think there's a lot of things we can correct. We all can look at execution. It cost us tonight. It cost us big time.'

SOUTH CAROLINA 21, NORTH CAROLINA 15: Chris Smelley threw a career-high three TD passes in the first half and No. 7 South Carolina (6-1) withstood a late rally to beat host North Carolina (2-5).

The redshirt freshman improved to 4-0 as a starter, helping South Carolina build a 21-3 lead through three quarters and successfully defend its first top 10 ranking since 2001.

But the Tar Heels made things interesting late. T.J. Yates threw an 18-yard TD pass to Greg Little on the first play of the fourth quarter, then ran 3 yards for another score to make it a six-point game with 3:03 left.

AUBURN 9, ARKANSAS 7: Wes Byrum kicked his second game-winning field goal in three weeks, this one from 20 yards with 21 seconds left, to give No. 22 Auburn a victory vs. host Arkansas (3-3, 0-3).

Byrum, a freshman, kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired two weekends ago for a 20-17 win against Florida. This kick was much easier, but no less crucial. The Tigers (5-2, 3-1) are now tied for first in the SEC West with Alabama and LSU. Auburn is at LSU next week.

The Tigers held Darren McFadden to 43 yards rushing, the first time all season he's been held to less than 100.

GEORGIA 20, VANDERBILT 17: Brandon Coutu kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to help No. 24 Georgia overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and beat host Vanderbilt.

Knowshon Moreno rushed for a career-high 157 yards in his first start for Georgia (5-2, 3-2), who danced on the Vanderbilt (3-3, 1-3) star at midfield after Coutu's kick sailed through the uprights.

Vandy's Cassen Jackson-Garrison fumbled 7 yards short of the goal line, setting up the Bulldogs' winning drive.

TENNESSEE 33, MISSISSIPPI STATE 21: Eric Ainge threw for 259 yards and two TDs and Lucas Taylor had career highs of 11 catches for 186 yards to lead No. 25 Tennessee past host Mississippi State.

The Volunteers (4-2, 2-1) fell behind the Bulldogs (4-3, 1-3) 14-7 early, but Ainge hit Taylor for a 51-yard TD in the second quarter that started the rally and Arian Foster scored on a 1-yard run after a personal foul penalty in the third quarter to help Tennessee pull away.

Daniel Lincoln also made four field goals to nail down Tennessee's third straight win and the fourth in its last five games.

ALABAMA 27, MISSISSIPPI 24: John Parker Wilson passed for 265 yards and Alabama scored 10 points in the final eight minutes and benefited from a critical replay reversal in the closing seconds to beat host Mississippi (2-5, 0-4).

Ole Miss quarterback Seth Adams completed a 41-yard pass to Shay Hodge to give the Rebels possession at the Alabama 4 with 7 seconds left.

After a 5-minute review clearly showed Hodge stepped out of bounds and returned to the field to make the catch, the play was ruled illegal and Alabama (5-2, 3-1) took over on downs for a final snap to seal the victory.

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