Missouri Tigers vs Kentucky Wildcats Match Player Stats On Sep 26, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Sep 26, 2015

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- After the worst passing performance of his career, Patrick Towles rebounded.

And then some.

Towles threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Kentucky beat 25th-ranked Missouri 21-13 on Saturday.

A week ago, Towles was the goat in the Wildcats' 14-9 home loss to Florida. He completed just 8 of 24 passes for 126 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns.

Against Missouri, he completed 14 of his first 15 attempts and led touchdown drives of 75 and 93 yards, turning a seven-point deficit into an 11-point lead.

Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk completed six of his first nine attempts for 58 yards and found sophomore wide receiver J'Mon Moore in the back of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown to stake Missouri to a 7-0 lead with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter.

On the first snap of the second quarter, Towles eluded pressure and raced 14 yards for a touchdown -- his second rushing score of the season.

Kentucky (3-1, 2-1 SEC) became the first team to score a second-half touchdown against Missouri (3-1, 0-1) this season. After a pass interference and a drop, which would have been an interception by Missouri, the Wildcats had new life.

Towles found tight end C.J. Conrad wide open down the middle of the field for a 24-yard touchdown that put Kentucky up 14-10.

The middle of the field was fertile ground for Towles in his resurgent passing game.

After forcing a Missouri punt that was downed at Kentucky's 7-yard line, Towles found Garrett Johnson running from right to left across the middle of Missouri's defense. Thirty-five yards later, Johnson brought Kentucky out of the shadow of its end zone, but he wasn't done.

On third-and-10 from Missouri's 29, Johnson switched directions across the defense. Towles found him for a gain of 24. On the next play Towles threw a 5-yard touchdown to Dorian Baker.

Johnson caught six passes for 119 yards, and Towles completed 22 of 27 attempts for 249 yards.

Missouri seemingly had no answer for Kentucky's play-action passing game. The loss of two defensive starters did not help, either.

Linebacker Kentrell Brothers -- the nation's leading tackler entering this week -- twisted his left leg on the final play of the third quarter and was carted off the field in tears. The official word was a sprained ankle.

Missouri also lost starting safety Ian Simon (head), right tackle Nate Crawford (ankle) and tight end Sean Culkin (knee).

NOTES: Kentucky started sophomore RT Kyle Meadows, who took over for freshman George Asafo-Adjei, who had started the first three games. Kentucky gave up six sacks a week ago against Florida. ... Missouri RB Morgan Steward did not travel with the team because of unspecified medical reasons. In his place, freshman Ryan Williams traveled with the team. He has not appeared in a game this season. ... Kentucky LT Jordan Swindle injured his groin in the first half and did not return.