LEXINGTON, Ky. — As Kentucky jogged to the locker room Saturday with a 17-3 halftime lead over Vanderbilt, the sound system in Commonwealth Stadium cranked out Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”

In a matchup between the two traditional bottom-dwellers of the SEC East, Kentucky picked up its third win of the season by relying on the Boss not only as motivator, but as offensive game planner.

Vanderbilt’s Ralph Webb led the SEC in rushing coming into the game, but Kentucky ground out an 20-13 win on strength of a running attack that featured multiple threats, including RBs Boom Williams, Jojo Kemp, and Benny Snell, as well as QB Stephen Johnson.

It wasn’t pretty — and the Wildcats needed a defensive stop on fourth down in the final seconds — but it was a key victory for UK’s cloudy bowl hopes, and perhaps for Mark Stoops’ job prospects.

What it means

Kentucky’s season looked scuttled from the start after an epic Week 1 collapse against Southern Miss. When UK pocket passer Drew Barker was injured, the outlook grew bleaker. But against that current, Kentucky had battled to a 3-3 mark, and the possibility that a couple of mild upsets could land them in a bowl game.

Vanderbilt looks doomed to another losing season in the SEC. While Derek Mason’s job security isn’t awful, it can’t be very good either. Coming on the heels of James Franklin’s amazing work at Vandy, Mason seems to be riding Vandy back into the SEC cellar. He’ll probably be back in 2017, but the long-term foundation isn’t terribly promising.

What I liked

Kentucky figured out a way to involve all their offensive playmakers in the backfield. Williams is the big-play threat, but being able to also rotate in veteran Kemp and hard-running freshman Snell seemed to help the Kentucky offense grind out enough turf to pick up the win. Defensively, Kentucky’s pass-rushers, DE Denzil Ware and LB Josh Allen, both had a good game, combining for three sacks.

Vandy’s defense does a nice job of avoiding the big play. The Commodore front made Kentucky work for every yard, and CB Taurean Ferguson even aided the ugly Commodore offense by picking up a scoop and score TD in the 3rd quarter which kept Vandy in the game.

What I didn’t like

Kentucky’s passing game looked like a return to the ’90s. No, not the 1990s, the 1890s, when forward passes were still illegal. Granted, QB Stephen Johnson is more adept at scrambling and rolling out, but moving ahead, Kentucky has to get some offense out of its drop-back passing scheme.

Johnson was just 10-for-24 for 49 yards and an interception.

Kentucky also has to quit turning the ball over, as the Wildcat offense nearly wasted a 14 point halftime deficit thanks to a pair of turnovers.

Oct 8, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Stephen Johnson (15) runs the ball against Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Zach Cunningham (41) in the first half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Kentucky’s passive defense on the final possession allowed Vanderbilt to drive it all the way down to the 8 yard line.

Vandy’s passing game was almost as bad as Kentucky’s. And for Ralph Webb to have just six carries in the first half is inexplicable. Much like Kentucky, Vandy seems to suffer an offensive identity crisis, aided and abetted by some inconsistent offensive line play.

Key play

UK linebacker Jordan Jones came clean on a sack with eight minutes and change to play which ended a Vandy possession and forced the Commodores to punt despite trailing 17-13. Kentucky’s defense was woeful in the season’s first two games, but has steadily improved — and Jones, who was second in the SEC in tackles coming into the game, has been key in that resurgence.

Who’s the man

Kentucky RB Benny Snell is exactly the kind of grinder that SEC teams have relied on for decades to salt away wins. But Snell is a freshman and a Wildcat, which accounts for two surprises. His stat line isn’t always pretty — 20 carries for 94 yards– but his offensive linemen know that his straight-ahead style grinds out yards– and wins.

What’s next

Kentucky gets a bye week before hosting Mississippi State in another game that will give the winner a shot in the arm and the loser a virtual elimination from the bowl picture. Vandy goes to Georgia next week, and will gain the advantage of the Bulldogs having one less day than normal to prepare after their Sunday game against South Carolina on Sunday.