Kentucky’s Barion Brown returned a kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown to help the Wildcats pull away and beat Ball State, 44-14, in the college football opener played at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.
It marked the second straight year Brown went to the house with a kickoff return. He did it in last year’s season-opening win over Miam of Ohio.
Running back Ray Davis rushed for 112 yards and two scores while receiver Dane Key caught five passes for 96 yards and one score.
Quarterback Devin Leary completed 18-of-31 for 241 yards and one TD pass in his first game under center for the Wildcats.
Placekicker Alex Raynor kicked three fields, all in the first half as Kentucky built a 23-7 lead. He his from 41, 46, and 46 yards.
The Wildcats will return to action next Saturday as they host Eastern Kentucky University (0-0). Kickoff is set for 3 pm.
At Lexington
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
BS (0-1)..…7 0 7 0 – 14
UK (1-0)…3 20 14 7 – 44
Scoring:
First Quarter
UK – Alex Raynor, 41-yrd field, 13:17
BS – Layne Hatcher, 2-yard run (Jackson Courville kick), 1:35
Second Quarter
UK – Ray Davis, 2-yard run (Alex Raynor kick), 11:31
UK – Jalen Geiger, 69-yard fumble return (Alex Raynor kick), 6:58
UK – Alex Raynor, 46-yard field goal, 1:08
UK – Alex Raynor, 46-yard field goal, :00
Third Quarter
UK – Dane Key, 5-yard pass from Devin Leary (Alex Raynor kick), 6:43
BS – Ty Robinson, 5-yard pass from Kadin Semonza (Jackson Courville kick), :42
UK – Barion Brown, 99-yard kickoff return (Alex Raynor kick), :28
Fourth Quarter
UK – Ray Davis, 30-yard run (Alex Raynor kick), :06
Next up: Kentucky (1-0) vs. Eastern Kentucky University (0-0), 3 pm, Sept. 9.