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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for a career-high 206 yards and three of his four touchdowns, including the go-ahead score of 8 yards with 11:28 remaining, and Kentucky stopped Missouri late for a tough-fought 35-28 victory Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference opener.
The Wildcats (2-0, 1-0) never dragged that thrilling showdown for the start of the Eastern Division, but had to overcome wasted a 28-14 lead as Missouri (1- 1, 1-1) eventually tied the game at the start of the fourth quarter. Kentucky responded by taking the kickoff and marching 75 yards quickly, aided by Rodriguez’s 28-yard run and Will Levis ’28-yard pass to tight end Justin Rigg to the Tigers’ 8th. .
Rodriguez barged in from 8 for TD, a game in which he appeared to grope as he crossed the goal line but was confirmed on examination. Missouri had one last chance to equalize after blocking Kentucky’s field goal attempt but reversed it as Connor Bazelak’s pass to Dominic Lovett was broken by Carrington Valentine of Kentucky with 1:30 to go .
Rodriguez, who surpassed his previous record of 149 yards against Vanderbilt last November, carried 27 times with extra touchdowns of 2 and 3 yards to tie his career high. The junior also had a 5-yard TD, his first, on Kentucky’s first stroke. Levis completed 10 of 18 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception on a downhill pass.
More importantly, Kentucky controlled the line of scrimmage, an effort that totaled 340 rushing yards with Rodriguez in the lead.
“Just me communicating with the (offensive) line,” Rodriguez said. “After each set we would discuss what was going on and where to go (the line). I just trust these guys.
The Wildcats beat the Tigers 519-398 to avenge last year’s loss to Colombia which marked their flattest effort of the season. They held the lead of two TDs three times before letting the last one slip away to a team from Missouri who wouldn’t give up.
Bazelak made sure of that by completing 34 of 52 attempts for 294 yards and four touchdowns, including a 17-yard pass to Tyler Badie early in the fourth that tied the game. But he also threw an interception early in the third which Kentucky turned into a Rodriguez TD.
Badie contributed in several ways for Missouri with 10 receptions for 88 yards and 14 carries for 61 in a workman-like performance. It was the Tigers’ pattern all night as they ran 75 yards or more for all four touchdowns but failed to deliver a spirited return.
“I’m really proud of this team and everyone, just the way they competed and kept receiving the punches they were throwing,” said Bazelak. “We fought back and fired punches. So I’m proud of the way we competed. We didn’t give up, we didn’t give up, even when we lost two touchdowns. “
Take it away
Kentucky: Whether they’ll be able to challenge Georgia or Florida in the East remains to be seen. But the Wildcats held on despite committing two turnovers, one of which led to a touchdown, and leaving Mizzou to go wild for two long touchdowns.
“It’s my job to make it a little cleaner,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “We have to finish the teams. We had a chance at the end of the first half and I’m absolutely happy with the way we started the second half.
Missouri: Credit the Tigers’ resilience for responding whenever they looked like they were about to drop three touchdowns down. But they couldn’t stop Kentucky or Rodriguez’s ground play, which made it look easy against the defense.
FOLLOWING
Missouri welcomes the southeastern state of Missouri on Saturday.
Kentucky returns to non-conference play against Tennessee-Chattanooga on Saturday.
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