LEXINGTON, Ky. — After an 0-2 start, Kentucky played a sparsely attended game on a rainy afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium. Moods were dark, but they were darker after starting QB Drew Barker left the game after throwing an interception on the game’s third play. UK’s defense, ranked in the bottom 10 of FBS football before this game, did little to improve things, but backup Stephen Johnson rallied the offense late to a 62-42 win, which serves only to underline the pivotal nature of next week’s home matchup with South Carolina.

What it means: At least temporarily, the blazing fire on Mark Stoops’ seat cools. This victory had little to do with Stoops’ defense, which looked atrocious against a below-par New Mexico State offense, which was without star RB Larry Rose. UK may have a full-blown QB controversy on its hands as well, as the offense clicked in the air and on the ground with some new personnel.

What I liked: Johnson, who had played only briefly and poorly against Florida, made the most of the early injury to Barker. Johnson posed a threat both on the ground, and in the air, where he hit for two first half touchdowns on his way to 310 passing yards and three scores.

Freshman running back Benny Snell also made the most of his first extended action, with four scores and 136 rushing yards. But maybe the best news for UK fans was the emergence of tight end C.J. Conrad, often underused in his first 14 games as a Wildcats. Conrad exploded with 5 grabs for 133 yards and 3 scores, providing whoever ends up as the Wildcat QB with a valid weapon.

What I didn’t like: New Mexico State eclipsed their season averages for points (27) and yardage (326) in the first half, with 35 points and 345 total yards. QB Tyler Rogers looked like a future NFL Draft pick, as he gashed the UK secondary on the ground and in the air. Kentucky’s defense has a lot of improving to do in a hurry. The SEC will not be forgiving.

Key play: Snell’s back-breaking, gut-punching fourth TD run of the game on a 3-yard power run up the middle was the kind of tough play that UK’s backs generally don’t make. When he made it and stretched the UK lead to 55-42, the Aggies’ spirit was finally broken.

Who’s the man: Lots of viable candidates, but will bypass the obvious choices of Johnson or Conrad and go with Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran, who finds himself as by far the most popular coach on the UK staff, after the way he adjusted on the fly to missing starting QB Barker and at times, stud RB Boom Williams. After tight end Conrad had looked forgotten, he grabbed three touchdowns from Johnson. All in all, at least one side of the ball looked sharp for UK, and that has to be the Wildcats’ building block moving forward.

What’s next: After nabbing a win, UK has a must-win next Saturday against South Carolina. Any chance of a decent season — and probably of Stoops keeping his job — requires a win against Carolina. Frankly, there aren’t many great chances at wins on the UK schedule thereafter. Muschamp’s horrible offense and Stoops’ rancid defense is an awful matchup that somebody has to win.