Morgan Newton has taken advantage of his opportunity as Kentucky’s starting quarterback.
Newton, a true freshman, took over as the team’s starter after Mike Hartline went down with a knee injury following the Wildcats’ 28-26 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 10 in Columbia, S.C.
Since then, Kentucky has compiled a 5-1 record and has won three Southeastern Conference games, with all of those coming on the road. The Wildcats will take a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s regular-season finale against Tennessee in Knoxville. The game will be televised on ESPNU at 7 p.m.
In six games as the team’s starter, Newton has completed 52 passes for 539 yards and five scores. In addition, Newton has rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Newton has thrown three interceptions, but it’s part of the learning process. His only miscue was a costly turnover in a disappointing 31-24 loss to Mississippi State on Oct. 31 at Commonwealth Stadium.
Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said Newton has made considerable strides since he was thrown to the wolves in the team’s 21-14 win at Auburn that resulted in the team’s successful turnaround.
"I think Morgan (Newton) has improved every day in practice,” Brooks said. “He is making better decisions in the passing game, he is making better decisions at the line of scrimmage with our checks, and he has done that arguably in difficult places, like at Auburn and at Georgia with noise being a factor.”
Brooks added that his team’s veteran offensive line also has made it an easier transition for Newton in the past six weeks.
“ We have done it with a minimal amount of penalties and procedures. We have had to use a timeout, which Saturday night (at Georgia) we used one when we got behind a little bit when we tried to check and it was too late in the 40-second clock."
Newton and the Cats especially have been successful in the fourth quarter during the last half of the season. Kentucky rallied for wins at Auburn, Vanderbilt and last week at Georgia. Brooks said his team’s focus when it counts has been the difference.
"We are just playing some of our best football when the game is on the line,” he said. “It seems like one of my most frustrating things in the last several games is that we have started the game pretty well, and actually scored first, and then turned right around and let the other team go right back down the field and score on us. So things have kind of degenerated after our first couple of series in the last several games, whereas in the fourth, that intensity level, I think, has peaked and we don't have any letdown.
“Maybe it's the back-against-the-wall theory, we have no margin of error, and now we have to play intense and focused the whole time. I wish I knew because if I did, I would try to put that formula in the first three quarters."

Fidler to skip senior season

Kentucky backup quarterback Will Fidler will participate in Senior Day festivities and has decided to forgo his final season of eligibility. Filder is on track to graduate in May.
“He's done a lot for this program," Brooks said. "We’d have never won the Auburn game without him. He's a true team player. A lot of people get their names written up for certain things, but what happens in practice, (there are) guys that do it every day and are out here trying to make this team better and Will Fidler has been one of those guys. I'm so very proud of what he's done how he's handled himself since he's been here.”

Photo: Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton celebrated after throwing a touchdown in the team's win over Auburn earlier this season. Newton is 5-1 as the team's starting signal caller. Photo by Victoria Graff.