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LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky backup quarterback Randall Cobb rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another to give Kentucky a spark, and Wildcats' running back Derrick Locke all but put the game away with a 68-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter to lead UK to a 38-3 win over Norfolk State on Saturday night before 69,118 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.
Cobb relieved an ineffective Mike Hartline in the first quarter and immediately energized Kentucky (2-0). After a short punt, he capped off a 41-yard drive with an 18-yard scoring run, giving his team a 7-0 lead with 3:29 left in the first quarter.
Cobb led two second-quarter touchdown drives. He capped a 66-yard, 10-play drive with a 1-yard run with 11:52 left in the half. He then tossed a 14-yard TD pass to Dicky Lyons to finish an 83-yard march for a 21-0 UK lead with 2:54 left in the second quarter.
Just as it appeared the Wildcats had all the momentum, the NSU (1-1) defense struck. Linebacker Donte' Hodge (Martinsville, Va.) sacked Cobb from behind, knocked the ball loose and recovered the fumble at the Wildcats' 28. Five plays later, Justin Castellat (Virginia Beach, Va.) connected on a 24-yard field goal to get NSU within 24-3 at the half.
But the stout UK defense, which held rival Louisville to just two points last week, controlled the second half. The Spartans managed 145 yards of offense in the first half, but just 20 in the second. All-SEC lineman Jeremy Jarmon was a big reason for disruption, tallying a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Lones Seiber's 23-yard field goal was the only scoring in the third quarter, but the Spartans had two prime scoring opportunities. An interception by Terrell Whitehead (Virginia Beach, Va.) set up NSU at the UK 50 midway though the third. But NSU could not get a first down and had to punt.
After forcing a Wildcats' punt on the next possession, Jeremy Wicker (Quantico, Va.) returned a punt 37 yards to the UK 23. But Castellat missed a 47-yard field goal after the offense was stopped.
Locke extended the Wildcats' lead to 31-3 with a 68-yard burst up the middle to start the fourth quarter. Moncell Allen capped the UK scoring with a 3-yard TD run with 8:35 remaining.
UK out-gained NSU 445-165. Cobb accounted for 136 yards of total offense, 87 passing and 49 rushing. Locked led all rushers with 96 yards on five carries.
Wicker paced the Spartans with 116 all-purpose yards. He led all players with five catches for 69 yards and also had 46 yards on two special teams returns. NSU quarterback Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.) finished 9-of-24 for 98 yards and one interception. He was harassed by the UK pass rush into an 0-for-8 showing in the second half.
Running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) gained 47 yards on 14 carries, 41 yards coming in the first half.
Whitehead led the NSU defense with eight tackles, one interception, a pass deflection and one QB hurry. Fellow safety Josh Anderson (Chesapeake, Va.) had seven tackles and one pass breakup for a secondary that limited the Wildcats to 15-of-26 passing and 147 yards through the air.
NSU opens its MEAC slate next Saturday against North Carolina A&T in the 61st annual Fish Bowl Classic. Kickoff at Dick Price Stadium is slated for 4 p.m.
