After falling behind early, Kentucky exploded for 28 points in the second quarter and walloped Western Kentucky, 63-28.

Kentucky (2-0) was led by Mike Hartline. The senior quarterback was nearly flawless, completing 16-of-20 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns, while running for a fourth touchdown. Kentucky’s wild card, Randall Cobb, showed his versatility by throwing and catching a touchdown pass and returning a punt for another score. He led all receivers with five catches for 98 yards.

Western Kentucky scored in the first minute of the game when Bobby Rainey got around right end for a 59-yard touchdown. Hartline’s 4-yard rushing touchdown, which put Kentucky up 14-7 to end the first quarter, was the first of five touchdowns in a 12-minute stretch. Hartline’s 4-yard pass to La’Rod King gave Kentucky a 42-14 lead seconds before halftime. Chris Matthews and Moncell Allen also had touchdown receptions for the Wildcats.

Running back Derrick Locke paced Kentucky’s ground game with 102 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Kentucky racked up 482 yards of total offense. The Wildcats’ defense, which ranked a dismal 100th in the country last season, allowed Rainey to run for 184 yards on 22 attempts. Western Kentucky (0-2) averaged almost six yards per rush.

Undefeated under new coach Joker Phillips, Kentucky hosts Akron next Saturday.