TO CLOSE

British coach Mark Stoops broke his team's victory over Mississippi State
Jon Hale, Louisville Courier Journal

The end of Kentucky CJ Conrad, left, celebrates with his fans after defeating Florida 27-16 in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, September 8, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo / John Raoux)(Photo: John Raoux, AP)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky's first football victory over Mississippi State earned Mark Stoops' team another story.

The Wildcats entered the USA TODAY Amway Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Poll, ranked 17th, marking the first time the team has been ranked in the top 25 since 2007.

First-year offensive midfielder Benny Snell ran for 165 yards and four touchdowns, and Kentucky's defense held the top-ranked Mississippi State attack just 201 total yards in a 28-7 win on Saturday. The win marks second place in the United Kingdom against a top-25 team this season, joining the previous win at 25th place in Florida.

Kentucky has appeared in the top 25 of the Associated Press or coaches barely four seasons from 1979 to 2017. In 2007, the Wildcats climbed to eighth place in the two polls after defeating LSU # 1 But four defeats in the next five games made Kentucky lose rank after the week of Nov. 11.

Now, almost 11 years later, the Wildcats are back in the poll.

"You are harvesting what you sow and sooner or later you will get paid and you will enjoy it," said British coach Mark Stoops after the win. "And you do not know when." It's later, then you do not know when that time has come, but you have to keep working and continue to do it and eventually you will be paid several times. team works very hard and in many ways when people do not see it. "

British RB Benny Snell, Jr. dives forward with the ball during the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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United Kingdom DE Josh Allen presses Mississippi state quarterback Nick Fitzgerald at the University of Kentucky game against the state of Mississippi at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British RB Benny Snell, Jr. runs the ball during the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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UK TE C.J. Conrad captures at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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United Kingdom Jordan Jordan rushes at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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United Kingdom DE Josh Allen drops Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald at University of Kentucky game against Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, SK, on ​​Saturday 22 September 2018.

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Mississippi State QB Nick at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the State of Mississippi at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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UK fan, Marty Sutton, at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the State of Mississippi at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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UK head coach Mark Stoops called for a timeout at the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, SK on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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United Kingdom SS Tyrell Ajian catches the ball at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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United Kingdom SS Tyrell Ajian is congratulated by his teammates after intercepting the ball against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British RB Benny Snell, Jr. scores a touchdown at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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UK fans at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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UK fans at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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In the UK, Jordan Jones and CB Derrick Baity celebrate the University of Kentucky football game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British RB Benny Snell, Jr. runs the ball during the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British RB Benny Snell, Jr. scored his fourth touchdown at the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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Mississippi Head Coach Joe Moorhead at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the State of Mississippi at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British quarterback Gunnar Hoak kneels at the University of Kentucky football match against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British head coach Mark Stoops shakes hands with Mississippi head coach Joe Moorhead after the University of Kentucky's game against the state of Mississippi at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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Britain's WR Dorian Baker stretches out but is out of the University of Kentucky football game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British RB Benny Snell, Jr. runs the ball during the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British quarterback Terry Wilson keeps the ball in the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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Mississippi quarterback Nick Fitzgerald made a touchdown at the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, SK on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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United Kingdom FS Darius West hits the ball for an incomplete pass during the University of Kentucky's football match against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British RB Benny Snell, Jr. scores a touchdown at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British RB Benny Snell, Jr. is hoisted by his teammates after scoring a touchdown at the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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United Kingdom Head Coach Mark Stoops at the University of Kentucky Football Game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, SK on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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British RB Zach Johnson celebrates after hitting special teams at the University of Kentucky's game against the Mississippi State at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

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The Southeastern Conference placed six teams in the coaching survey. Alabama continued on the first step, joined by Georgia (third), LSU (sixth), Auburn (tenth) and the Mississippi State, who dropped from 14th to 19th after the loss to Kentucky.

Kentucky will look to stay in the poll for several weeks in a row with a win over South Carolina on Saturday at Kroger Field.

Jon Hale: [email protected]; Twitter: @JonHale_CJ. Support a strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/jonh.

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