LEXINGTON — Redshirt freshman Shane Boyd's first career start culminated in new head coach Guy Morriss' first career victory as Kentucky beat Ball State 28-20 on Saturday.

        Boyd threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns, and Chad Scott rushed 10 times for 119 yards as the Wildcats (1-1) picked up a rare victory — their first since a 41-34 nail-biter over Indiana last September.

        “We finally got the monkey off our backs,” said Morriss, who took over the program in February following the resignation of Hal Mumme. “I think everyone is pumped up about it. It feels a lot better.”

        Boyd completed 15 of 22 passes, including 13- and 16-yard TD strikes. He started slowly, missing his first three pass attempts, but quickly settled in and led the offense on several long scoring drives.

        “My teammates knew this was my first start and they really rallied around me,” Boyd said. “I'm the man right now, and I've got to keep working hard and getting better. That's the way I have to approach this.”

        Morriss said Boyd would make his second career start next week at Indiana. Jared Lorenzen, who started every game last season and last week's 36-10 loss to archrival Louisville, will serve as backup.

        “Shane showed us he's very confident in his ability to move the football team, and he's sharp mentally,” Morriss said. “I really like the way he handles himself, that little bit of swagger he's got.

        “Jared's in a tough position, but it's something he's just going to have to deal with. He has to keep a good attitude and remain focused, because he's just one play away from going in.”

        The Wildcats' ground game, which was dormant with only 58 yards in last week's season-opening loss, responded with a workmanlike 146 yards against Ball State.

        Scott's 119 yards, which included a 67-yard touchdown run to break open the game early in the third quarter, were the most for a UK back since his own 119-yard effort against Mississippi State last season.

        “The line did a great job and the holes were there today,” said Scott, who gained only 29 yards on 11 carries against the Cardinals a week ago. “Usually if I can get past the line, good things are going to happen.”

        Talmadge Hill completed 19 of 35 passes for 170 yards, including 3- and 7-yard touchdowns, and ran the ball 15 times for 71 yards to lead Ball State (0-2).

        Ball State outgained the Wildcats 427 yards to 361 but had trouble putting points on the board following several long drives.

        “We were not in the right position at any time, and we definitely were not tackling when we needed to be,” Ball State coach Bill Lynch said. “I could tell that from the sideline, so who knows what I'll see when I'm watching the tape.

        “I'm disappointed. I honestly thought that we could come in here and win, but we didn't get it done.”

        Boyd misfired on his first three passes of the game but drove the Wildcats 70 yards on their next possession before fumbling the exchange from center at the Ball State 11.

        The Cardinals then embarked on an 88-yard, 19-play drive to take the lead on Pucke's 30-yard field goal with 50 seconds to play in the first quarter.

        Boyd's first career touchdown pass — a 16-yarder across the middle to Abney — put the Wildcats on top 14-10 at halftime.

Team		1	2	3	4			SCORE
Ball State		3	7	3	7			20
Kentucky		0	14	7	7			28

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter	Ball State Field Goal - 30-yarder by Thomas Pucke. 0:50 remaining.
2nd Quarter	Kentucky Touchdown - 1-yard run by Artose Pinner. (Seth Hanson kick). 7:23 remaining. Ball State Touchdown - 7-yard pass from Talmadge Hill to Tim Streit. (Thomas Pucke kick). 4:38 remaining. Kentucky Touchdown - 16-yard pass from Shane Boyd to Derek Abney. (Seth Hanson kick). 3:48 remaining.
3rd Quarter	Kentucky Touchdown - 67-yard run by Chad Scott. (Seth Hanson kick). 9:55 remaining. Ball State Field Goal - 46-yarder by Thomas Pucke. 3:20 remaining.
4th Quarter	Kentucky Touchdown - 13-yard pass from Shane Boyd to Derek Smith. (Seth Hanson kick). 14:54 remaining. Ball State Touchdown - 3-yard pass from Talmadge Hill to Billy Lynch. (Thomas Pucke kick). 5:26 remaining.

Attendance: 61,523

Final Team Statistics	Ball State	Kentucky
First downs	27	17
Rushes-yards	51-257	28-146
Passing yards	170	215
Return yards	0	26
Passing (Att-Comp-Int)	35-19-0	22-15-0
Punts-Average	4-41.0	4-42.2
Fumbles-Lost	1-0	1-1
Penalties-Yards	4-33	7-49
Time of Possession	39:17	20:43

Rushing
Ball State	- Merriweather 21-121, Hill 16-76, Blair 13-56, Short 1-4.
Kentucky	- Scott 10-119, Johnson 5-24, Pinner 6-7, Boyd 3-4.
Passing
Ball State	- Hill 19-35-0, 170 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Kentucky	- Boyd 15-22-0, 215 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Receiving
Ball State	- Lynch 8-60, Westbrook 3-40, Parchman 2-32, Streit 2-16, Schembra 2-9, Cottee 1-13, Merriweather 1-0.
Kentucky	- Abney 5-84, Smith 5-57, Allen 2-21, Simms 1-38, Harp 1-13, Johnson 1-2.

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