I saw a battle between two determined defensive standouts who consistently made plays for their teams. One, Kentucky DT Myron Pryor, came away with the victory. The other, Georgia LB Tony Taylor, fell short.

"I felt like I had a pretty good game," Pryor said. "I felt like I got great pressure on the quarterback. I made a few tackles, and made a big hit, and I think that all of the things that I did today made our outcome."

I agree.

Kentucky trailed 14-10 early in the fourth quarter. Georgia had the ball, first and 10 at their own 38 yard line. Stafford to pass, incomplete. The ball was batted down by Pryor at the line of scrimmage. Now it's second down and 10. Stafford to throw again. This time a wide receiver screen.

"They've been doing a lot of screens lately," Pryor said. "And we just were able to pick up on the screen."

The receiver, Mario Raley, came back towards the middle of the field and was leveled by Pryor. The ball came loose. Kentucky recovered. It was maybe the biggest play of the game, but it was probably bittersweet for Pryor. His hit caused Raley to lay motionless on the field for several minutes. Raley had to be removed on a stretcher, and he received an ovation from the crowd as he was taken away.

The game resumed and nine plays later, Kentucky went 41 yards and scored on Keenan Burton's second touchdown catch of the game. They led 17-14. It was all set up by Pryor's forced fumble.

Let's rewind.

About halfway through the third quarter, Georgia had the ball in Kentucky territory, leading 14-10. On second down and 18 at the UK 38, Pryor applied pressure on Stafford, who had no choice but to scramble for one yard. It set up third down and 17. The drive ended on a missed field goal.

How about Pryor's play on fourth and one in the second quarter. He and Jeremy Jarmon teamed up to stop FB Brannon Southerland on fourth and one, forcing a turnover.

Pryor actually started his domination on the game's opening possession with Georgia driving deep into UK territory. On first down from the 25, Pryor blew by the left guard and stuffed Danny Ware for no gain, putting a stop to Georgia's momentum. The drive seemed certain to end in seven points, but it ended in a field goal attempt, which was missed.

Nearly every time Kentucky needed a big play on defense, number 98 was there.

Then there was Georgia's stud linebacker. Taylor did just about everything he could do to keep his Dawgs in the game.

A Stafford interception gave the Wildcats the ball at the UGA 2 yard line as the first half winded down. The threat was ended when Taylor picked off Kentucky QB Andre Woodson.

In the third quarter, Kentucky drove to Georgia's 26 trailing by four points. On second down and 10, Taylor came in on a blitz, sacked Woodson, and took the Wildcats out of field goal range. The Wildcats punted.

On the next UK possession, Taylor recovered a fumble by kicker Lones Seiber on a fake field goal.

The difference in the game was how Woodson took advantage of Pryor's prowess while Stafford couldn't do much with the opportunities afforded to him by Taylor. While Pryor's forced fumble led to a touchdown, Taylor's interception (which he ran back for 52 yards) only led to another Stafford interception. When Taylor recovered the fumble, Stafford took his team into field goal range, but saw Andy Bailey miss a 47 yard kick.

Three of the last four drives of the game culminated with touchdowns. But prior to that, or should I say Pryor to that, the game was dominated by those two defensive beasts.

In the end, it was Pryor's team who came away with a season-defining victory. It was his fans that ripped down the goalposts. And it was his team that did what it does best - force turnovers - while Taylor's team continued to give the ball, and the game, away.

"We're not used to winning a game like this," Kentucky Head Coach Rich Brooks said.

But when he looks at the SEC standings in the newspaper tomorrow, he'll see Kentucky ahead of the mighty Georgia Bulldogs.

"That's a wonderful thing," Brooks said.

And it's been a wonderful day in Lexington, Kentucky.

Now bring on Vanderbilt.