QB Fidler makes case to start for Kentucky, helped by Cobb

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Will Fidler made his case on Saturday afternoon to be considered for Kentucky's starting quarterback job next fall.

The junior has never started in a game for Kentucky, and played in four over the past two seasons.

But he played like he had intentions of being the No. 1 guy in Saturday afternoon's annual Blue-White game.

Fidler started for the Blue team and led it to a 28-23 victory over the White team. After the White team, led by incumbent starter Mike Hartline, punted on its first offensive series, Fidler led the Blue team on a 93-yard scoring drive, finishing with a 26-yard pass to former Alcoa High School star Randall Cobb.

Fidler finished the game 10-of-24 passes completed for 110 yards and two touchdowns and an interception.

"I thought Fidler played, in the first quarter, on the first drive, as good as I've ever seen him play," Wildcats coach Rich Brooks said. "I feel much, much better about Will Fidler after this scrimmage. Obviously, he got the win so he's the cock of the walk today."

Brooks and quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders both said that Fidler was the beneficiary of having one of the Wildcats' best all-around offensive talents on his side in Cobb.

The quarterback-turned-receiver caught four of Fidler's passes, for 70 yards and a touchdown. Cobb also had a six-yard run and held the ball on field goals.

"Randall looks good everywhere he lines up," Brooks said. "He's a good holder. He's a good punt returner. He's a good receiver and he was a good quarterback."

On the other side, Hartline started slow, missing on eight of his first nine pass attempts, including an interception to safety Ryan Lentz. He settled down later, finishing with two touchdown passes to Nick Melillo, and a 18-yard touchdown run.

Melillo wouldn't allow his quarterback to take all the blame for the slow start.

"I think it was pretty much the whole offense. We were all a little bit frustrated when we came out," said Melillo, a transfer who will be playing his first season for the Wildcats in the fall. "I had the deer-in-the-headlights look, my first time being out there. After a rough, rocky start, we started making plays."

Hartline completed 17-of-33 passes for 208 yards, and Melillo caught four passes for 43 yards.

The Blue team defense also did its part, sacking Hartline four times including two by defensive end Chandler Burden.

Linebackers Micah Johnson, who considered entering the NFL draft, and Danny Trevathan played for the Blue team and had 11 tackles each. Trevathan also returned a punt for 31 yards.