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Kentucky rebounds to outlast Eastern Michigan 24-20

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - On the brink of letting another game slip away, Kentucky thwarted Eastern Michigan's last-ditch rally quest on Mike Edwards' end-zone interception in the final seconds.

The Wildcats made a few clutch plays against the Eagles, which were necessary on a day they again struggled for consistency. And they'll take moving on from a not-so-pretty win after having to pick up the pieces from their devastating loss to Florida.

"We found ways to win the football game when we didn't play our very best," Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said after Kentucky survived Eastern Michigan 24-20 on Saturday. "There's no excuse for not playing our best at home. But I appreciate the fact we're 4-1 because that's better than 3-2."

Benny Snell scored on a 12-yard run early in the fourth quarter after Josh Paschal's blocked punt, to provide a 24-14 cushion. His TD followed the second of Kentucky's big special teams plays that allowed the Wildcats (4-1) to pull away from the Eagles in a closer-than-expected contest against the Mid-American Conference school.

"The third quarter was really frustrating with some special teams miscues," EMU coach Chris Creighton said. "You know, we didn't turn the ball over in the first half, but we turned it over there in the second half. And hats off to Kentucky."

The Wildcats' first key play was Tristan Yeomans' recovery of a muffed punt at EMU's 42, leading to Austin MacGinnis' 39-yard field goal that broke a 14-all tie late in the third.

EMU (2-2) wasn't done, getting within four points on Ian Eriksen's 2-yard TD run with 2:34 remaining. A missed extra point forced the Eagles to have to go for a TD on their final opportunity, and the Wildcats had plenty of coverage on Brogan Roback's desperation pass that Edwards had measured all the way.

"I really just tried not to let them score and make the play, really," Edwards said. "I just went up and got it."

That play alone showed the Wildcats learned a little something from last week's 28-27 loss to the No. 21 Gators, who scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter because of communications breakdowns that left receivers uncovered.

Kentucky won on the day it honored former Wildcat Nate Northington on the 50th anniversary of his breaking the Southeastern Conference's color barrier in football.

THE TAKEAWAY

Eastern Michigan: The Eagles outgained the Wildcats 312-228. They also had late chances despite trailing by 10, but that desperation demonstrated how those special teams' breakdowns hurt. Roback finished with 256 yards on 26-of-43 passing and a TD, but threw two interceptions.

The Eagles fell to 0-10 against the Southeastern Conference but Roback wasn't shocked that they played Kentucky close.

"We knew we matched up very well and could do things," Roback said. "So, no, we weren't surprised, because we fully expect to be in a game and to be in a situation similar to what we were just right there to win the game."

Kentucky: The Wildcats initially looked hung over from the Florida loss with out-of-sync play on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Stephen Johnson rebounded from a first-snap fumble that set up EMU's touchdown on the next play to throw first-half scoring passes of 20 and 7 yards to Greg Hart and Tavin Richardson, respectively. Johnson finished with 175 yards passing but was sacked five times.

GIVING NO GROUND

Rushing yards were few for both teams, with Kentucky's run defense reclaiming its stingy ways by allowing Eastern Michigan just 13 yards rushing on 27 carries. That's the lowest allowed by the Wildcats since Samford finished minus -2 on the ground in 2012.

At the same time, the Wildcats managed just 53 yards on 37 attempts against the Eagles.

UP NEXT

Eastern Michigan: Visits Toledo in MAC play on Oct. 7.

Kentucky: Hosts Missouri in SEC play on Oct. 7.

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More AP college football coverage: http://collegefootball.ap.org and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@APTop25

Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson hands off the ball to running back Benny Snell Jr. during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won the game 24-20. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Eastern Michigan punter Jake Julien dives on a loose ball after his punt was blocked resulting in Kentucky's possession and subsequent touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won the game 24-20. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Eastern Michigan running back Ian Eriksen is mobbed by teammates after he scored a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won the game 24-20. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Eastern Michigan quarterback Brogan Roback looks for a receiver during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won the game 24-20. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Linebacker Courtney Love, one of Kentucky's team captains, walks off the field with honorary team captain Nate Northington after the coin toss before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky honored Northington today, 50 years after signing him as the first African-American to play football in the SEC. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Eastern Michigan quarterback Brogan Roback is sacked by Kentucky defensive end Denzil Ware during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won the game 24-20. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Kwanii Figueroa sacks Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson for a loss of yards during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson throws a first down pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Kentucky wide receiver Tavin Richardson celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Eastern Michigan defensive back Vince Calhoun and defensive back Kevin McGill, with the ball, celebrate after McGill intercepted a pass over Kentucky wide receiver Isaiah Epps during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. The play was called back after a pass interference penalty against Eastern Michigan. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
Eastern Michigan wide receiver John Niupalau (89) is mobbed by team mates after he scored a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/David Stephenson) The Associated Press
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