Kentucky: 13
Georgia Tech: 6

In the 1954 homecoming game, Georgia Tech would host the Kentucky Wildcats at Grant Field. The teams split the last two meetings, but the Jackets held an overall advantage 7-5-1 in the series. The Wildcats entered the contest at 2-3, with losses to Maryland, Mississippi, and Florida, while the Jackets stood at 4-1, with their lone loss also against the Gators.

Kentucky got off to a great start when it took the ball 65 yards in 11 plays on the opening possession to jump out to an early 7-0 lead. Bill Teas looked to have recovered a fumble for the Jackets at one point on the drive, but Tech was called offsides on the play and the turnover was nullified. Just when Tech’s defense looked to have held the Wildcats, Bob Hardy found Brad Mills on a fourth down swing pass for a 26 yard touchdown.

The second quarter was filled with punts and turnovers and neither team would add points before intermission.

The Yellow Jackets opened the second half in the same manner that the Wildcats had opened the first, driving 78 yards in 7 plays for a touchdown with roughly three minutes gone in the period. Bill Brigman connected on passes of 10, 15, 13, and 14 yards and John Hunsinger added two runs to the Wildcat 14 yard line. Brigman took to the air again and found Henry Hair in the end zone for a touchdown, but Bob Hardy blocked Wade Mitchell’s extra point to keep it at 7-6.

Later in the third quarter, Henry Humphreys picked off Hardy’s pass at the Kentucky 20 yard line to put Tech in great field position. A committee of backs advanced to the 9 and Humphreys and Paul Rotenberry exchanged carries to the 1 yard line. But on fourth down, Humphreys came up short of the end zone and the Jackets turned the ball over on downs at the goal line.

The Yellow Jacket defense quickly forced a punt and the offense was back in business at the Wildcat 30 yard line. But Teas lost a fumble at the 29 soon thereafter, squandering another scoring opportunity for Tech.

Early in the fourth quarter, Brigman picked off another Kentucky pass, but the Ramblin’ Wreck was unable to produce any points. This trend continued throughout the quarter, while Kentucky was able to add another score late in the period to ice the game. The Wildcats drove 50 yards for the touchdown, scoring on a three yard run by Hardy, but missed the extra point to keep their lead at 13-6 with 1:24 left in the contest.

Tech was unable to answer with such little time remaining, and they went on to drop their second game of the season. Kentucky would go on to win their remaining four games to finish at 7-3 on the season.

Statistics:

First Downs:
UK – 12
GT – 18

Rushing Yards:
UK – 210
GT – 159

Passing (Comp-Att-Yds):
UK – 4-14-64
GT – 9-20-97

Interceptions thrown:
UK – 2
GT – 1

Fumbles lost:
UK – 1
GT – 1

Penalty yards:
UK – 53
GT – 85

References:
Danforth, Ed. “’Cats Derail Tech, 13-6.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution. 1954 Oct. 24