Lexington, KY -- (Sports Network) - The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders came within a yard of pulling off an upset over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Trailing 20-14 in the final minute, the Blue Raiders regained possession on a blocked field goal. And with eight seconds to play, Middle Tennessee's Eldred King caught a Hail Mary off a deflection at Kentucky's three-yard line, only to be tackled inside the one.

Kentucky (3-0) quarterback Mike Hartline went 28-of-47 for 254 yards and two TDs. Dicky Lyons caught 12 passes for 79 yards.

For Middle Tennessee (1-2), which was coming off last week's big win over Maryland, Joe Craddock finished with 352 yards and two TDs passing. Malcolm Beyah (five receptions, 117 yards, one TD) and Desmond Gee (three rec., 106 yds., one TD) each had big days in the passing game.

Middle Tennessee struck first, as Craddock and Gee hooked up for a 62-yard touchdown pass at the 9:21 mark of the opening quarter.

Later in the quarter, Kentucky recovered a fumble deep in Middle Tennessee territory. Shortly after, Maurice Grinter followed through with a one-yard touchdown run.

The Wildcats led 10-7 at the half, thanks to Lones Seiber's 40-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Midway through the third quarter, Hartline lost a fumble at the Kentucky 34- yard line. Two plays later, Craddock found Beyah for a 22-yard scoring strike to put the Blue Raiders ahead, 14-10.

But the Wildcats came up big in the fourth quarter. Hartline connected with Derrick Locke for a six-yard touchdown pass with 12:20 remaining.

And Seiber made it a 20-14 game by converting a 25-yard field goal, before the Blue Raiders made things very interesting in the final seconds.

Middle Tennessee had virtually no running game, as the Blue Raiders finished with just 31 rushing yards on 23 attempts (1.3 ypc) as a team.