|
SPONSORS ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Woodson's poise pays off big Published: Sunday, September 23, 2007 PRINT E-MAIL FAYETTEVILLE — There was no panic on the Kentucky sideline after Arkansas scored on a safety and kickoff return in an 11-second span to turn a onepoint Wildcats lead into an eight-point deficit with 11: 40 left in Saturday night’s game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. “We’ve had to come back numerous times, and we talked about it on the sideline,” Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks said. “We’ve been here before, this is nothing. We can come back from it.” Led by senior quarterback Andre ’ Woodson, the No. 21 Wildcats pulled out a victory with a fourth-quarter comeback for the fifth time in the past nine games and beat Arkansas 42-29. Kentucky’s other fourth-quarter victims in that span include Louisville last week and Georgia, Vanderbilt and Louisiana-Monroe last season.
“We have a lot of heart,” said senior wide receiver Steve Johnson, who led Kentucky with seven receptions for 111 yards Saturday night. “We know where we came from and you don’t want to go back to those days.” The days and nights for Kentucky football have been much better since Woodson emerged as a star last season when the Wildcats finished 8-5. They have won 9 of 10 games since losing at LSU 49-0 last season. “Andre ’ is our leader, and we follow him,” Johnson said. “That’s pretty much how it works.” Woodson completed 21 of 39 passes for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Razorbacks and set an NCAA record by extending his streak of consecutive passes without an interception to 296. He broke the mark of 271 set by Fresno State’s Trent Dilfer in 1993. “You need a little luck to do that, but you also need a lot of skill,” Brooks said. “And Andre ’ has a lot of skill.” Woodson’s skills were on full display as he directed touchdown drives of 68 and 24 yards in the fourth quarter. His 32-yard touchdown pass to senior Keenan Burton put Kentucky ahead to stay, 35-29, with 4: 02 left. On what turned out to be the gamewinning score, Woodson pulled the Razorbacks offsides with a hard count, and with the free play went to Burton, who caught the ball in the corner of the end zone. “I got vertical and [Woodson ] put the ball where I’m the only guy who has a chance to get it,” Burton said. “He’s so poised.” Before Woodson’s second touchdown pass of the game to Burton — they also connected on a 15-yarder in the third quarter — Kentucky freshman tailback Derrick Locke ran four times for 31 yards. “We did a good job of taking what the defense gave us and ran it well,” Woodson said. “Then we got the deep ball when we got the chance.” Woodson said he was confident throwing to Burton after pulling Arkansas offsides. “We could have easily given up, and in the past we might have given up,” Woodson said. “But now we’re doing a good job of staying calm and staying positive.” More Stories From: BOB HOLT · SEC gets stars back from draft · Hogs' Balumbu falls short in final · NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS : All-American hog call · NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS : Hogs' title hopes take hit on Day 2 · NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS : Qualifying fervor Yesterday's Most Popular 1. HOG FUTURES JERRY MITCHELL : Hurricane brings Mitchell to Hogs 2. THE RECRUITING GUY : Purifoy's size fits into UA's plans 3. Iowa prep standout Kelly joins UA track 4. Former Diamond Hog Richards inks contract with Marlins Today's Most E-mailed |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||





