Cutter Boley threw for 161 yards and the game’s only touchdown Saturday night, while the Kentucky defense allowed only 241 yards and notched seven sacks in a 10-3 defeat of homestanding Auburn.
In winning their first Southeastern Conference game of the year, the Wildcats (3-5, 1-5) got a sack and a half each from Alex Afari and Kahlil Saunders. They posted 13 tackles for loss and gave up no play longer than 26 yards.
It was fitting that the key play on the Tigers’ final possession was the game’s last sack, as Sam Greene burst in around end to knock down Ashton Daniels for a 10-yard loss. With the clock running inside 10 seconds, Auburn (4-5, 1-5) got off one last snap, but Daniels’ Hail Mary throw into the end zone was picked off by Jordan Lovett as time expired.
Daniels completed only 13 of 28 yards for 108 yards while adding 48 yards on 15 rushes. The Tigers managed just 118 yards on 40 rushes and averaged a measly 3.4 yards per play.
Boley hit 18 of 29 passes for 161 yards and two interceptions but was able to complete the night’s only touchdown drive by finding Kendrick Law for 13 yards at the 9:27 mark of the third quarter, capping a 10-play, 75-yard march.
The key plays on that drive were a pair of Boley connections with Fred Farrier II. There was a 13-yard hookup on third-and-11 from the Kentucky 38, followed three plays later by a 32-yard strike that converted another third-and-11.
The teams combined for only six first downs and 111 total yards in a drab, scoreless first quarter. But each finally generated a bit of offense in the second quarter, kicking field goals to set up a 3-3 tie at the break.
Jacob Kauwe bombed a 48-yarder for the Wildcats at the 11:40 mark to finish off a 44-yard drive, and Auburn got a 27-yarder from Alex McPherson with two seconds remaining.
