By LARRY VAUGHT

Based on how quarterbacks Morgan Newton and Will Fidler played in Saturday’s 21-14 win at Auburn, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks sees no reason to change his approach to this week’s game with Lousiana-Monroe.

That means he’ll evaluate Newton, a true freshman, and Fidler, a fourth-year junior, in practice this week just as he did last week after quarterback Mike Hartline went down with a knee injury to determine who will start in Commonwealth Stadium against Louisiana-Monroe.

However, Brooks feels better about both quarterbacks today because of what they did at Auburn. Newton was 5-for-13 passing for 39 yards with no interceptions and ran eight times for 15 yards and one score in the second quarter. Fidler was 4-for-9 passing for 36 yards with no interceptions and ran two times for 10 yards and one score in the fourth quarter.

“I think both did some good things. Hopefully in the friendlier confines of Commonwealth Stadium, we will be able to make progressive reads and do a better job in the passing game. For Morgan to go out on the road in that noise and have no fumbled snaps or false starts was an impressive debut,” Brooks said. “Will came in the game like he always does and gave us all he had. He is a tough guy. He did some very good things to bring us back for the win.”

Brooks was pleased that both quarterbacks avoided big mistakes even though Newton did make some small mistakes that eventually led to Fidler playing in the second half.

“I thought actually Morgan did some pretty good things early. He didn’t seem like he was in awe of the situation or all that nervous. He overthrew a couple of balls early, but he handle himself well. As the game wore on it looked like he got a little bit narrower in his vision and his demeanor,” Brooks said.

Newton forgot to have Randall Cobb go in motion on a reverse play. He turned wrong a few times that resulted in broken plays where he had to scramble.

“Morgan showed the potential he has to throw the ball, but he was not accurate and started not getting his reads and staring down receivers,” Brooks said. “But I think he learned a great deal from this game.”

Fidler, who has a sore shoulder that kept him from throwing at practice today, directed a fourth-quarter scoring drive to tie the game.

“Will did a great job managing the game and did some good things,” Brooks said. “The thrown on fourth-and-three (to tight end T.C. Drake)  was critical, but it was also a great catch because the ball was behind him and he was hit as he caught it and had to turn and make extra yards. But Will ran with authority and directed the offense very well.”

One key statistic for UK was that the Cats had no penalties even though Newton and Fidler were seeing their first significant playing time.

“One, there is a little bit of luck involved in that. But they handled themselves well in the huddle and with communication with teammates in a noisy environment. It got a little quieter in the fourth quarter that helped,” Brooks said.

Brooks says his team remains a “work in progress” as it moves forward without Hartline and that more production from the passing game is a necessity for UK to continue to win. However, the Cats ran for 282 yards to go with the 75 passing yards Saturday and outgained Auburn 357-315 even though the Tigers had one of the SEC’s most productive offenses going into the game.

The coach says sophomore receiver/quarterback Randall Cobb — he ran 12 times for 109 yards and the winning touchdown and caught one pass for 12 yards — continues to be special.

“The Wildcat package (with Cobb at quarterback) bring a different dimension and preparation (for opponents),” Brooks said. “The good news is that although Randall Cobb is beat up, he is still making spectacular plays.”

Brooks says the speed and quickness of Cobb, Derrick Locke and Alfonso Smith even though he’s been limited by a thumb injury gives UK a special dimension on offense.

“It has been a good thing to see holes open and they get to the next level very quickly,” Brooks said. “But we need to get our passing game on track.”

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