Coming into the 2009 season, the preeminent story of fall camp was the night and day improvement of Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline. 

Saturday, in the Wildcats season opener, Hartline was as advertised, passing for 222 yards and two touchdowns as Kentucky thrashed Miami (Ohio) 42-0 in the season opener before 41,037 fans at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. 

Hartline was aided by the all-around performance of Randall Cobb. Cobb, who spelled Hartline at quarterback at times last season, hauled in seven catches for a career-high 95 yards and a touchdown. He also added an 11-yard rushing touchdown while handling the punt return and holding duties on extra points. 

Junior college transfer and receiver Chris Matthews, who had received his own share of hype throughout fall damp, did not disappoint either, catching four passes for 57 yards in his debut, including a 21-yarder from Hartline in the second quarter.

After a scoreless first quarter that saw both teams trade missed field goal opportunities, the Wildcats exploded for 21 second quarter points. 

A Hartline 27-yard scoring strike to Cobb was set up by a 42-yard interception return by Calvin Harrison to get the Cats on the board. 

An 18-yard punt return by Cobb gave the Wildcats great field position on its next possession and in the first play of the season in the 'Wildcat' spread formation, Cobb handed to Derrick Locke, who looked unfazed by a devastating knee injury last season, for a 16-yard scoring run. 

Hartline's jump ball to Matthews in the corner of the endzone from 21 yards out as the Wildcats staked claim to a 21-0 halftime lead. 

On the day, five different Wildcats saw the endzone, including pre-season All-American cornerback Trevard Lindley, who returned a Daniel Raudabaugh pass 25 yards for a score. 

In the second half, the UK defense held the Redhawks to just two first downs in the second half in pitching its first shutout since 1996.

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