Kentucky quarterback Will Levis returned to the field following a shoulder injury on the first series of the second half and ignited the Wildcats to a 27-17 victory over Mississippi State at frenzy Kroger Field on Saturday night.

The Wildcats moved to 5-2 and 2-2 in the Southeastern Conference. The Bulldogs dropped to 5-2, 2-2.

Running back Chris Rodriguez ran to a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns and finished with 196 yards on 30 rushing attempts.

Levis totaled 230 yards through the air and one TD toss. He completed 17-of-23 and was picked once.

After a scoreless opening quarter, the Bulldogs struck first as Massimo Biscardi booted a 48-yard field with 8:26 left before the break to make it 3-0.

Kentucky pulled even at 3-all on Matt Ruffalo’s 28-yard field with four seconds left in the quarter.

The Wildcats took their first lead on the opening drive of the second half on Ruffalo’s 37-yard field goal with 11:34 to go in the third period.

Mississippi State went back on top when quarterback Will Rogers III hit Austin Williams on a one-yard pass play on fourth-and-goal with 8:28 remaining in the third quarter. Biscardi’s PAT kick made it 10-6.

Kentucky marched right back down the field and took a 13-10 lead on Levis’ three-yard pass to Rashaan Lewis on fourth down with 4:10 remaining. It was his first career TD pass.

Rodriguez pushed the Wildcats up 20-10 with a 16-yard run with 11:43 left to play.

The Bulldogs closed to within three when Emmanuel Forbes picked off Levis and returned it 59 yards for a score. It came with 8:33 to go.

The Wildcats came right back and went back up by 10 on Rodriguez’s seven-yard run with 5:30 remaining.

The Wildcats, now 5-2, will be idle this coming week before traveling to Tennessee (7-0) on Oct. 29.

At Lexington

SCORE BY QUARTERS:

MS (5-2)….…0  3   7   7 – 17

UK (5-2)……0  3  10  14–  27

Scoring:

First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter

MS – Massimo Biscardi, 48-yard field goal, 8:26

UK – Matt Ruffalo, 28-yard field goal, :04

Third Quarter

UK – Matt Ruffalo, 37-yard field goal, 11:34

MS – Austin Williams, 1-yard pass from Will Rogers III (Massimo Biscardi kick), 8:28

UK – Rahsaan Lewis, 3-yard pass from Will Levis (Matt Ruffalo kick), 4:10

Fourth Quarter

UK – Chris Rodriguez, 16-yard run (Matt Ruffalo kick), 11:43

MS – Emmanuel Forbes, 59-yard INT (Massimo Biscardi kick), 8:33

UK – Chris Rodriguez, 7-yard run (Matt Ruffalo kick), 5:30 

Next up: Kentucky (5-2) at Tennessee (7-0), TBA, Oct. 29.