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LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Ticker) -- Dusty Bonner threw for 251 yards and four touchdowns to lead Kentucky to a 31-20 Southeastern Conference upset of No. 18 Arkansas. Bonner, who entered the game with an NCAA-best 335.8 passing yards per game, completed 19-of-31 passes. He tossed three scoring passes to give Kentucky (3-2, 1-1 SEC East) a 21-point lead early in the second quarter. "This was a big game for us," Bonner said. "It's always great to beat a team that's ranked in the top 25. But it's important to realize that we made some mistakes despite the win and we still have to go back and work on that for next weekend." Two of Quentin McCord's three receptions were for scores as the Wildcats avenged last year's 27-20 loss at Arkansas, the first meeting between the schools. Derek Homer rushed 17 times for 60 yards for Kentucky, which has defeated a ranked team in three straight seasons. The Wildcats improved to 2-0 at home and visit winless South Carolina next week. "That was our best game this year, especially against a top 20 team," Kentucky coach Hal Mumme said. "It was a tremendous effort. I am proud of the team. We made some mistakes, but the good outweighed the bad." Clint Stoerner was 17-of-31 for 131 yards and an interception for Arkansas (2-2, 0-2 West), which has lost its last two games after opening with consecutive non-conference victories. The Razorbacks host Middle Tennessee next Saturday before returning to SEC play against South Carolina on October 16. "To get a win on the road you have to play perfectly and you can't give a team anything," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "It could have easily been 7-0 our way in the first half. I've never seen us play worse in the first half. Offensively, I thought we played very poorly." Kentucky opened the scoring when McCord outleaped a defender for a 48-yard reception with 6:38 left in the opening quarter. On Arkansas' next possession, safety Willie Gary recovered a fumble by Chrys Chukwuma at the Razorbacks' 14-yard line to set up another score. Kentucky faced a 2nd-and-20 after a penalty and sack, but Dougie Allen caught a 24-yard TD pass with two defenders draped on his back to push the lead to 14-0 with 5:53 left in the period. The Wildcats went 82 yards on eight plays on their first drive of the second quarter, taking a 21-0 advantage when Bonner found McCord over the middle for an 18-yard score. Chukwuma, who was held to 14 yards on eight carries, had a one-yard plunge to pull Arkansas within 21-6 with 3:23 to go in the first half. Arakansas drove to the Kentucky 16 on the first possession of the second half, but Dennis Johnson blocked Richie Butler's 33-yard field goal attempt. The Wildcats took over on their 20 and eight plays later Bonner hit Garry Davis on a slant for a two-yard TD and a 28-6 lead. Robby Hampton replaced Stoerner and tossed a 10-yard pass to Boo Williams with 1:59 to go in the third period. Hampton rolled out and completed the two-point conversion to tight end Marcellus Poydras to cut the deficit to 28-14. "I just didn't feel like Clint was in sync early and wasn't there, especially early," Nutt said. "You can't give a team like Kentucky that many chances. On any given Saturday anybody can beay anybody, especially on the road." Anthony Wajda intercepted Hampton and had a 46-yard return to set up Marc Samuel's 42-yard field goal with 7:46 remaining. "Hampton threw a post pass with a good break on it," Wajda said. "I saw the opening and grabbed it. I tried to cut back, I saw another opening and tried to cut back again. I finally got tired and just tried to run the ball straight up." Stoerner returned and capped a 16-play, 80-yard drive with a nine-yard rollout. But his conversion pass was incomplete, keeping the deficit at 31-20 with 2:50 left. The Razorbacks got back the ball 40 seconds later but they stalled on their 42 on Stoerner's incomplete pass. "They played a good game," Stoerner said. "One of the more stunning things is that we weren't moving the ball well offensively. They are a good football team and they are going to score points. You've just got to hang with them and come out on top at the end." Arkansas receiver Anthony Lucas had two receptions for 14 yards, giving him 2,429 yards, 11 shy of Anthony Eubanks' school record.
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