LEXINGTON, Ky. — Jarquez Hunter shined with a career-total of 278 yards on 23 attempts, securing two touchdowns that played a crucial role in Auburn’s comeback victory over Kentucky on Saturday night with a final score of 24-10. Payton Thorne contributed by throwing for 172 yards and a touchdown, leading the Tigers to outscore the Wildcats after initially trailing 10-0.
Following four back-to-back defeats, where they squandered leads in the fourth quarter against Missouri and Oklahoma, Auburn (3-5, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) turned the tide with an impressive performance. Hunter’s fierce running helped lift the team, scoring a crucial 2-yard touchdown that put Auburn ahead 17-10 midway through the third quarter. He followed that up with a powerful 45-yard touchdown run early in the fourth to increase their lead to 14 points.
Hunter surpassed his previous best of 183 yards against Vanderbilt last November and his 20 carries from a game against New Mexico earlier this season.
Guiding Auburn’s efforts was head coach Hugh Freeze, who did not join the team on their trip Friday due to a stomach illness. He arrived early Saturday after dealing with nausea but quickly returned to his routine, participating in the Tiger Walk at Kroger Field before witnessing his team dominate the game over the last 51 minutes.
Thorne completed an impressive 20 out of 26 passes, including a critical 6-yard touchdown throw to KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the second quarter that was pivotal in starting Auburn’s comeback. The Tigers outperformed the Wildcats dramatically, racking up 498 total yards compared to Kentucky’s 224, with a significant disparity of 452-140 in the last three quarters alone, which extended Auburn’s winning streak in Lexington dating back to 1966.
Kentucky initially took control, scoring 10 points on their first two possessions thanks to a 46-yard field goal from Alex Raynor and a 2-yard rushing touchdown by freshman Jamarion Wilcox. Unfortunately for the Wildcats (3-5, 1-5), this defeat marks their third straight loss and fifth in their last seven games, severely impacting their bowl game aspirations.
In terms of future prospects, Auburn’s recent win raises questions about whether it will boost their chances for a postseason appearance as they desperately needed this morale boost. Meanwhile, Kentucky once again faces disappointment as they struggle to rebound from last week’s loss in Florida, putting their own postseason possibilities in jeopardy.
Looking ahead, Auburn will host No. 25 Vanderbilt next Saturday before facing their second bye week of the season, while Kentucky will travel to face No. 7 Tennessee.