Sept. 23, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Quarterback Mike Hartline and defensive tackle Corey Peters will be the game captains for Saturday’s contest vs. Western Kentucky University, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.
Game captains are normally selected on the basis of performance in the previous game. In UK’s win over Middle Tennessee, Hartline completed 28 of 47 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs. He also led the Wildcats to two scoring drives in the fourth quarter, bringing UK from behind to win 20-14. Peters made two tackles, including one for a loss, and was credited with a quarterback hurry. He played a dominant role in helping limit the Blue Raiders to 31 rushing yards, the fewest by a UK opponent in two years.
Hartline and Peters will join permanent captains Tony Dixon and Braxton Kelley at the pregame coin toss.
Mixed Results at Tuesday’s Practice: Kentucky returned to the practice field for two hours Tuesday morning with mixed results, according to Coach Rich Brooks.
“The tempo was good (in the first hour of practice), we did what we needed to do to get better,” Brooks said. “In the second half, we kind of lost focus and stumbled through it.”
The coach noted that Matt Lentz has been working as the starting strong safety this week.
“He (Lentz) gives you everything he’s got every play and that’s the one thing you can count on,” Brooks said. “He’s going to try to do the right thing every play. He’s intelligent, he focuses, he works hard. We just have to see what he does in games now, see if he carries that over.”
Lentz, a redshirt freshman from Simpsonville, S.C., has two tackles so far this season in a reserve role, plus an interception in the season opener at Louisville.
Brooks also discussed the difficulty of defending the Western Kentucky University offense.
“Their offense is similar (to Middle Tennessee),” Brooks said. “They spread it. They throw a lot of bubble screens. They run the read play and the option maybe a little more than Middle did, I’m sure a little more with K.J. Black healthy and starting against us.
“We have to remember that this is the same team that went in and beat Middle at Middle last year. This is a very good football team.”
The Wildcats play host to the Hilltoppers on Saturday at 7 p.m. Only scattered single tickets remain. Fans without tickets can watch the game live in Lexington on WKYT and in Bowling Green on WBKO. Fans across the nation (no blackouts) may purchase the game live via ESPN GamePlan.
