Kentucky 48, Louisiana-Monroe 14: Patrick Towles threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns as the host Wildcats overcame a surprising first-quarter deficit to defeat the Warhawks.

Towles connected with Javess Blue for two scores, including an 83-yarder in the second quarter, as Kentucky (5-1) escaped a 14-3 hole, scored 45 consecutive points and secured its first three-game winning streak since 2010. Blue, who finished with 109 yards on three catches, was one of six Wildcats to receive a pass, and Josh Forrest and Marcus McWilson each returned interceptions for touchdowns.

Pete Thomas threw first-quarter touchdown passes to Ajalen Holley and Kenzee Jackson, from 12 and 9 yards, respectively, but struggled the rest of the way as Louisiana-Monroe (3-3) lost for the third time in four games. Thomas completed 20-of-31 passes for 167 yards, but didn’t receive much support from the ground game as five Warhawks combined for only 77 yards on 40 carries.

After Towles' 4-yard scoring pass to Blake Bone gave Kentucky a 24-14 lead at the half, the Wildcats put the game away in the third quarter with three touchdowns in a span of 3:10. Towles connected with Blue from 21 yards out, McWilson returned a Thomas pick 36 yards and Stanley Williams pranced into the end zone on a 58-yard run to give the Wildcats a 45-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

On second down from the Kentucky 42 with four minutes left in the third, Williams blasted through a tiring Warhawks defense on his way to paydirt, topping 100 yards for the first time this season along the way. A week after missing a 45-38 SEC win over South Carolina, Williams finished with 104 yards on seven carries.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kentucky now leads the all-time series 4-1 and has outscored Louisiana-Monroe 84-27 in the last two matchups. … Mark Stoops, in his second season in Lexington, improved 7-11 as coach at Kentucky. … The Warhawks have allowed 107 points in their three losses.