LEXINGTON, Ky. - With injuries sidelining its starting quarterback, tailback and No. 1 receiver, Kentucky used a patchwork offense Saturday to get back on track.
Although the Wildcats' clash with Eastern Kentucky doesn't affect their SEC record or add much to their bowl credentials, Kentucky's 37-12 victory did prove several players are capable of carrying the load.
"I thought it was a workmanlike effort," coach Rich Brooks said after the Wildcats (5-4) won for the 18th consecutive time against a non-conference foe to set a school record.
Just keeping enough healthy players to field a team was work enough. Top receiver Randall Cobb, from Alcoa High, was held out with a thumb injury, starting tailback Derrick Locke missed the game with two injured knees, and key defensive players, such as Paul Warford and Trevard Lindley, sustained injuries.
And, with starting quarterback Mike Hartline sidelined with a knee injury, true freshman Morgan Newton started for the fourth week in a row and got the first two touchdowns of his Wildcats career - a minute apart in the third quarter.
"As the game went on, I was able to get things down better, to understand things better," said Newton, who completed 20 of 29 passes for a career-high 187 yards and no interceptions.
First, he connected with Maurice Grinter from 14 yards. After an interception by Sam Maxwell gave the Wildcats the ball in Eastern Kentucky (5-4) territory, Newton found Chris Matthews in the corner of the end zone on an 18-yard toss.
Kentucky's Moncell Allen and Alfonso Smith each rushed for more than 60 yards and one touchdown.
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