Opposing coach: Jackie Sherrill [Mississippi State]
November 7, 1998
Game Preview
Kentucky entered the matchup with a 5–3 overall record under Hal Mumme.
Game Summary
Kentucky defeated Mississippi State, 37–35, on November 7, 1998.
Kentucky erased an 11-point second-half deficit and became bowl eligible for the first time since 1993. Tim Couch’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Craig Yeast put the Wildcats ahead, and the defense stopped Mississippi State’s late two-point conversion attempt.
Game time:
Stadium: Commonwealth Stadium
Lexington
Box Score
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State | 6 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 35 |
| Kentucky | 3 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 37 |
Halftime: Mississippi State 22; Kentucky 18
TV:
TV announcers:
Referee:
Attendance: 57,760
Uniform combination:
Team Statistics
| Statistic | Mississippi State | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 16 | 31 |
| Rushing (att–yds) | 38-254 | 35-181 |
| Passing yards | 163 | 338 |
| Passing (cmp–att–int) | 8-17-0 | 35-45-1 |
| Punts (no.–avg.) | 3-44 | 2-37 |
| Fumbles–lost | 2-1 | 2-1 |
| Penalties–yards | 13-116 | 8-77 |
| Possession | 25:18 | 34:42 |
Individual Statistics
Kentucky
Rushing
| Player | CAR | YDS |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Homer | 10 | 130 |
| Anthony White | 1 | 41 |
| Matt Mumme | 1 | 8 |
| Tim Couch | 11 | 2 |
| Craig Yeast | 1 | 0 |
Passing
| Player | CMP | ATT | INT | YDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Couch | 35 | 45 | 1 | 338 |
Receiving
| Player | REC | YDS |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Coleman | 8 | 103 |
| Craig Yeast | 6 | 87 |
| Garry Davis | 4 | 63 |
| Anthony White | 6 | 34 |
| Derek Homer | 6 | 34 |
| Jason Watts | 1 | 7 |
| Jimmy Robinson | 1 | 7 |
| James Whalen | 1 | 6 |
| Neal Brown | 1 | 2 |
| A.J. Simon | 1 | -5 |