LEXINGTON, Ky. — Vanderbilt running back Jared McGrath had a message for reporters following the Commodores' 24-20 victory over Kentucky on Saturday.

        “We're not the doormats of the Southeastern Conference,” said McGrath, whose team came into the game without a conference victory in its last nine tries dating to last season. “You can go tell Kentucky they are.”

        Greg Zolman threw for 263 yards and a career-high three touchdowns as the Commodores (3-7, 1-6) moved out of the conference cellar. The Wildcats (2-8, 0-7) now find themselves alone there following seven straight losses.

        “That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger,” said Kentucky coach Hal Mumme, whose team has lost three games by four or fewer points this season. “We're trying hard. We're just young.

        “The guys are out there squeezing the apple so hard they either smash it or drop it. It's not a lack of effort. It's probably a combination of bad coaching and youth.”

        Zolman completed 17 of 29 passes without an interception and moved into third place on Vanderbilt's career passing chart.

        “This is a huge victory for our team,” Zolman said. “Any time you win on the road in the SEC, it's going to boost your confidence. We're going to use this performance and build on it for the Tennessee game in two weeks.”

        Jared Lorenzen, the SEC's leader in passing yards and total offense, completed 33 of 55 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns but could not lead the Wildcats into the end zone in the second half.

        “We really should have won this game,” Lorenzen said. “We gave it away. Time and time again, we were knocking on the door. We just didn't capitalize when we had opportunities.

        “This game really sums up the whole season. When it's time to go and make big plays, we don't go and do it.”

        Vanderbilt drove 80 yards on its opening possession, and Zolman hit Elliott Carson with a 1-yard touchdown pass to put the Commodores up 7-0 midway through the first quarter.

        The Wildcats bounced back with 17 straight points. Following Seth Hanson's 24-yard field goal, Lorenzen hit Ernest Simms with a 31-yard touchdown pass and Derek Smith with a 22-yard TD to take a 17-7 lead with 11:28 to play in the second quarter.

        Vanderbilt tied it on John Markham's 42-yard field goal and Zolman's second touchdown pass to Carson with 4:03 to play in the half. Hanson's 37-yard field goal bounced off the left upright and through on the final play of the half to give Kentucky a 20-17 lead.

        The Wildcats racked up 370 yards in the first half, including 133 rushing yards. Lorenzen's 19 first-half completions set an NCAA single-season freshman record, eclipsing SMU quarterback Mike Romo's 282.

        “We go into halftime with a three-point lead that should have been a 10-point lead,” Mumme said. “This game shouldn't have even been close if we make the plays we're supposed to make.”

        Vanderbilt ....... 7 10 7 24

        Kentucky ....... 10 10 0 0 20

        First Quarter

VU—Carson 1 pass from Zolman (Markham kick), 8:54.

        UK—FG Hanson 24, 4:32.

        UK—Simms 31 pass from Lorenzen (Hanson kick), :58.

        Second Quarter

        UK—Smith 22 pass from Lorenzen (Hanson kick), 11:29.

        VU—FG Markham 42, 8:32.

        VU—Carson 21 pass from Zolman (Markham kick), 4:03.

        UK—FG Hanson 37, :00.

        Third Quarter

        VU—Simone 7 pass from Zolman (Markham kick), 1:34.

        A—58,117.

        INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

        RUSHING—Vanderbilt, McGrath 18-51, Perkins 7-40, Thomas 1-3, Zolman 6-(minus-12). Kentucky Scott 19-92, Lorenzen 8-74, Homer 3-10, Simms 1-8, Abney 1-7, Smith 1-1.

        PASSING—Vanderbilt, Zolman 17-29-0-263. Kentucky, Lorenzen 33-55-1-385.

        RECEIVING—Vanderbilt, Stricker 4-40, Jones 3-103, Simone 3-25, Young 2-50, Carson 2-22, Mitacek 1-12, McGrath 1-9, Thomas 1-2. Kentucky, Smith 7-87, Abney 5-41, Scott 4-34, Simms 3-42, McCord 3-29, Allen 2-60, Blizzard 2-23, Kelly 2-18, Homer 2-15, Brown 2-13, Robinson 1-23.

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