Lewis stars in unimpressive opener; Collins national "Back of the Week"; Tides depth overwhelms 'Cats 28-14
(Above) Sonny Collins is being treated on the sidelines by head trainer Roy Don Wilson. (Top) Pat Donley, Tom Ehlers, Bubba McCullom and Frank LeMaster close in on VPI ball carrier. (Opp. pg., Above) Cheerleaders in the mist and midst of the NC game.
UK 37      VPI 26
(continued from pg. 116)
After a long battle over the starting quarterback job, it was settled that Ernie Lewis, a junior signal-caller from Elizabethtown would get the nod over Mike Fanuzzi.
It took the 73 Wildcats only eight plays to score the first touchdown of the year and the first ever  in  Commonwealth Stadium.
UK punted after their initial series stalled on their own 29-yard line. VPI fumbled at their 37 on the second play from scrimmage and Ben Thomas recovered for the 'Cats.
Three running plays and a first down later, Ernie Lewis fired a 13-yard scoring strike to wingback and offensive captain Ray Barga with 11:04   left   in   the   first quarter.
VPI fumbled again on their second series, with UK recovering on the Tech 17. Three plays later, Alfred "Sonny" Coilins carried over for the second touchdown of the day.
A field goal by UK's Ron Steele was added at the end of the first
quarter to give the Cats a 17-0 advantage.
After a Kentucky fumble gave VPI the ball on their own 44, quarterback Bruce Adrians mixed runs and passes until he eventually carried  in from the 3-yard line.
UK retaliated quickly after the ensuing kickoff. Three runs senior running back Doug Kotar gained 16 yards before Lewis ran around right end and galloped 63 yards for a score.
On Kentucky's next series, Lewis passed three times for 48 yards, with runs by Kotar, Collins, and Steve Campassi netting 28 yards. Lewis carried in from the one to boost the score to 31-6, as it remained until the third quarter.
In the second half, while UK's offense virtually stopped, VPI's offense ground out 220 yards en route to three touchdowns.
The Wildcats held on to preserve the 31-26 win. Coach Curci blamed his complacence for the second half letdown, but offered the philosophy, as did many fans, that "a win is a win".
The opening victory could not be dwelt upon very long, however,