Micah Johnson strains MCL

By Chip Cosby / ccosby@herald-leader.com

Mark Cornelison | Staff

Kentucky linebacker Micah Johnson was on crutches for the second half after suffering a strained MCL in the first quarter of Saturday night's game.

FOOTBALL: Tennessee at Kentucky
Where: Commonwealth Stadium
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 28
TV: ESPNU

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Date	Opponent	Time	TV	Result
2009 UK FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
(Home games CAPITALIZED; times are p.m.)
(Click on score for game coverage)
Sept. 5	Miami (Ohio)*	noon	ESPNU	W, 42-0
Sept. 19	LOUISVILLE	noon	ESPNU	W, 31-27
Sept. 26	FLORIDA	6	ESPN2	L, 41-7
Oct. 3	ALABAMA	12:20	SEC Network	L, 38-20
Oct. 10	at South Carolina	12:30	FSN	L, 28-26
Oct. 17	at Auburn	7:30	ESPNU	W, 21-14
Oct. 24	LOUISIANA-MONROE	7	FSN	W, 36-13
Oct. 31	MISSISSIPPI ST.	7	FSN	L, 31-24
Nov. 7	EASTERN KENTUCKY	1 p.m.	WKYT	W, 37-12
Nov. 14	at Vanderbilt	12:21 p.m.	SEC Network	W, 24-13
Nov. 21	at Georgia	7:45	ESPN2	W, 34-27
Nov. 28	TENNESSEE	7	ESPNU	--
* -- at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati
Click here to see results of the 2008-09 season

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The Kentucky football team was already operating without star cornerback Trevard Lindley against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday night, and early in the first quarter it was forced to deal with the loss of middle linebacker Micah Johnson, an All-SEC candidate and the team's leading tackler.

Johnson left the game with what Coach Rich Brooks described as a strained MCL in the first quarter and did not return. Brooks said the extent of Johnson's injury will be determined within the next 24 to 48 hours.

"It's not major, major, but it's not a band-aid injury either," Brooks said.

Sophomore Ronnie Sneed filled in for Johnson the rest of the way and had two tackles.

Also, strongside linebacker Sam Maxwell suffered a shoulder injury and Winston Guy bruised his back. Both players were able to return to the game.

Conner paves the way

Fullback John Conner rushed for a team-high and career-high 46 yards on six carries against ULM. Conner's 39-yard run in the first quarter set up his own 1-yard score, and in the third quarter Conner caught a pass from Will Fidler in the right flat, bulldozed through a pair of ULM defenders near the sideline and fought his way into the end zone for a score.

Tailback Derrick Locke came into the game limited by a strained knee and tied his season low in rushing with 36 yards on just 10 carries. Locke also didn't catch a pass and was held out of kickoff returns, an area where he leads the league.

"We didn't want him to carry the ball as much and do as much," Brooks said. "We knew he wouldn't get as many touches."

That meant that Conner would be a more integral part of the offensive game plan, and like he always does, the 5-foot-11, 240-pound fullback from Cincinnati delivered.

"Being a fullback, you don't know what you're really going to get, so I just focus on blocking, and if I happen to get a few carries here and there, I just try and make the most of it," he said.

UK ties non-conference record

Kentucky now has won 17 consecutive non-conference games, tying the school-record streak from 1954-60.

■ Randall Cobb's 73-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter was the first for UK since Rafael Little's 84-yard return on Nov. 18, 2006, also against Louisiana-Monroe.

■ Freshman receiver La'Rod King made his first career reception for 8 yards. The play also gave the Cats a first down.

■ Junior defensive end DeQuin Evans had three tackles for loss, matching his season total through six games.