BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – West Virginia suffered through a dismal first half, but recovered in the second half, thanks to an awakened Jeff Hostetler, and defeated underdog but determined Kentucky in the Hall of Fame Bowl on a bitter cold night in Birmingham.
 
After watching the Wildcats jump to a 10-3 halftime lead while going 0 for 10 passing, Hostetler came back to complete 10 of his final 13 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
 
The momentum swing began as West Virginia opened the second half by executing an onside kick to perfection, much to the surprise of the Kentucky defense. Paul Woodside recovered his own kick at the Wildcat 48, and eight plays later Hostetler found Rich Hollins 16 yards away in the corner of the end zone.
 
The Mountaineers mounted the winning drive late in the third quarter behind Hostetler's running and passing. Rob Bennett hauled in the game winner from two yards out early in the fourth period.
 
The West Virginia defense got into the act on the next series. A Tim Agee interception led to a Woodside 23-yard three-pointer only two minutes later to complete the Mountaineer scoring. The Wildcats added a late touchdown, but the verdict was already in.
 
West Virginia survived the first half, thanks to the slashing running of workhorse Tom Gray, who totaled 149 yards for the night on 32 carries. Kentucky aided the cause on their first possession of the game by opting for a fake in lieu of a chip-shot field goal and overthrowing an open receiver in the end zone.
 

	1	2	3	4	Final
West Virginia	3	0	7	10	20
Kentucky	0	10	0	6	16

WV - Paul Woodside 39 field goal
UK - Randy Jenkins 26 pass from Tony Mayes (John Hutcherson kick)
UK - Hutcherson 32 field goal
WV - Rich Hollins 16 pass from Jeff Hostetler (Woodside kick)
WV - Rob Bennett 2 pass from Hostetler (Woodside kick)
WV - Woodside 23 field goal
UK - Joe Phillips 13 pass from Bill Ransdell (kick fail)

Attendance - 42,000