WKU Football: What Went Right and What Went Wrong in WKU’s 21-13 Win at UTEP
The good, the bad, the ugly: What happened and how do we feel about it?
WKU football’s first half against UTEP was perhaps the reason I gouged my eyes out Saturday. That was shortsighted. That’s why it took us so long to write this article. That and having jobs and stuff.
WKU’s “effort” against UTEP was bizarre. I’ve started describing this team as “punching the time card when they don’t work an hourly job”. It’s like they’re showing up to work, but just kind of going through the motions. We all know this: In sports, the effort and emotion is the most important part that makes you the most competitive. You can’t just walk onto the gridiron, wistfully get out there and try a couple plays, and then tiptoe back to the sideline. No. You better get your mind right and come out from the start ready to go.
It’s telling when announcers basically acknowledge the opponent is really locked in and talk about the Toppers as if they are playing with their food. Exactly!
Mouse sometimes beats cat when cat decides to play with her food. Too often, the Tops play with their food.
WKU ultimately turned it on inside a minute in the first half, getting a big defensive stop to keep UTEP off the board for a second score to secure a 3-0 halftime deficit for the Tops. That could have been so much worse, but 3-0 was truly the best scoreboard scenario for the Tops, given they had given up more than three times the yards they had gained.
In the second half, WKU stepped it up, with Elijah Young busting some runs, including an out-of-nowhere 64 yard touchdown scamper to steal the lead for good.
The Tops would move forward from there, taking a 14-3 lead before trading touchdowns with UTEP to finish most of the scoring at 21-10. The Miners would add a very late field goal to make the final margin, 21-13.
UTEP put up a good fight, but ultimately gets its seventh loss, meaning bowl ineligibility. WKU moves to 5-4, meaning they need one of three to become bowl eligible. More importantly, they do they stay in the hunt for a conference title game appearance.
Big Picture - by Matt McCay
This part of our article seems to be kind of the same narrative each week. What else is there to say? WKU continues to look vulnerable, and has proven vulnerable to the tune of two losses against quality opponents, yet also, the Tops stay in contention for a Conference USA crown.
No matter how ugly, she still gets to go to prom as long as she’s got a date. And that’s this WKU team right now. Win and they’re in. That’s right. If WKU wins its last three games, the Tops will make an appearance in the CUSA title game for the second time in three years.
If we take a look at the picture within the UTEP game, the stats tell an interesting story. UTEP essentially dominated WKU in almost everything, but a few huge factors thwarted the Miners:
Big plays, hidden yardage, and timely yardage.
WKU dominated in tackles-for-loss, sacks, third down conversions, fourth down conversions, red zone, explosive plays, costly penalties (think block-in-the-back on interception return), and the second half scoreboard.
UTEP handled WKU in total yardage, passing yardage, first downs, and time of possession.
Ultimately, WKU gets a tough, important road win, and in the grand scheme of things, if WKU wins the games left on its schedule and wins two more, WKU will have accomplished all of its goals for the year except going to a New Years Six Bowl.
What Went Right - by Devin Stewart
At this point in the season, any other year, we would have some idea how this team would work at this point in the season. Then enters the 2023 Tops.
After the past several weeks of an offense that everyone assumed was a pass heavy “Air-Raid” offense, the Tops have developed a respectable run game.
Much of that is thanks to the O-Line and Elijah Young for the recent resurrection. Until UTEP, the run game hadn’t gained more yards than the passing game in any game this season.
In a “freaky Friday” style twist, WKU only had 102 passing yards butvmustered 178 yards rushing. Hopefully the ground game will open Reed up to being able to create the dual offensive threat that’s needed in the Tops’ repertoire.
On the defensive side of the ball, WKU was very aggressive and stubborn, allowing the Miners to get 368 total yards of offense but only allowing 13 points. Three of those came from a late fourth quarter field goal.
The Miners had a very impressive and “down hill” running back in Deion Hankins. From watching the strength and vision of this running back, I assumed the Miners would be carried by Hankins. But the Topper defense stepped up and stopped them.
Another aspect that is positive is WKU had less penalties than UTEP. Penalties kill drives, and they also kill big returns. UTEP had a long interception return canceled by a block in the back call.
A win is a win. One more win and we’re bowl eligible, and if we can win out, we’re getting our rematch with Liberty for the championship.
What Went Wrong - By Devin Stewart
If you’ve ever ridden a bicycle and had to really push it to the top of a hill, the ability to coast and rest on the back side as the downhill speeds your bike toward the end of the trail is so nice.
This “coasting” or offensive laziness is the sense that I get from this team . It’s not just the WKU vs UTEP game I’m speaking of. This problem goes all the way back to WKU vs La Tech, where the Tops had 35 points on the board and metaphorically the offense went back to the hotel for the second half. They basically left the defense with the “check”.
You can’t beat good teams like this. It was evident when Western played Liberty; the offense had to “get off the couch” and threw down 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Where was that sense of urgency for the other three quarters?
Sometimes when you go on vacations you’re bound to forget something. You just hope it’s something not super important. But who forgot to pack the passing game?
For a team that has so many offensive threats to only have 280 yards of total offense is ridiculous. This same team has had 400+ passing games and could only manage 102 passing yards. UTEP isn’t even going bowling this year, and WKu played down to the competition.
It would be understandably assumed that with the longer time to prepare, you could develop some form of game plan to over come some of the obstacles that the offense dealt with. But it was still there: The four and out curse.
Anybody know where we could get a JoeBoo statue? ( Major League Film reference) chicken to sacrifice? At this point I would be glad to sacrifice some of the Towel Rack staff to get this offense back to the flow they had against USF or HCU.
The defense had some issues, but they’ve saved WKUs booty for the past several weeks. They had some blown assignments in this game, missed tackles, etc. But they’re getting a well deserved pass as they literally kept UTEP from scoring after a big run to the 3 yard line. They had several tackles for a loss and even jumped some screens before they could develop.
So obviously I’m frustrated that a team predicted to easily win CUSA has had some struggles. I’m sure I’m not alone. But the season isn’t over yet, so let’s hope these kinks are worked out and the offense is able to cruise back to their early season strengths, again.
Red Threads - by Matt McCay
Wrapping up UTEP
Austin Reed had a career low 102 yards passing at UTEP. Rumors swirl that he is dealing with nagging injuries, perhaps a shoulder and a knee. Message boards also call for his head, which I deeply caution people to reconsider.
Speaking of which, one of Austin Reed’s greatest non-throwing qualities is his ability to manipulate throwing lanes, avoiding sacks and not taking direct hits from huge linemen.
Elijah Young busted a couple of big ones, totaling 139 yards on only 12 carries. Young now leads the team with 325 yards and three touchdowns on the season. Although he didn’t show it this game, he has also proven to be a reliable pass catcher (82 receiving yards, 1 TD) and someone coaches can depend on in pass protection, a huge underrated skill in high level football.
WKU has now sacked its opponent 15 more times than the opponent has sacked Austin Reed. Western Kentucky’s offensive line is tied for third in the nation with six sacks surrendered, while WKU’s defense is tied for 49th in total sacks.
WKU’s Specialists continue to excel. Tom Ellard has raise his punting average from under 40 to above 41 in the past few weeks, booming a few and continuing amazing directional punting away from the opposing returner. Lucas Carneiro has missed one field goal all season and is yet to miss a PAT. Kickoff specialist Cory Munson has arguably been perfect all season, getting nearly 60 percent touchbacks and never kicking the ball out of bounds in nine games.
WKU is now 4-0 all-time in games vs. UTEP, all of which have happened since WKU joined the league in 2014.
CUSA Tidbits
WKU’s win at UTEP keeps the Hilltoppers in the driver’s seat for second place in CUSA. UTEP is now ineligible for a bowl game.
Jacksonville State was up on South Carolina most of the game and surrendered 17 points in the fourth quarter to lose by ten.
Sam Houston State got its first win of the season, coming back from a couple of touchdowns down to beat Kennesaw State, who will start to transition to the FBS next season.
Liberty absolutely trounced La Tech, confirming their appearance in the CUSA Title Game in Lynchburg, VA.
New Mexico State had an interesting 13-7 slog win at home against MTSU, winning to keep their hopes very much alive at WKU this week. Much like WKU, if they win out, they’re also going to Liberty to avenge an early season loss.
SHSU, MTSU, UTEP, and La Tech are all now bowl ineligible. Liberty, JSU, and NMSU all have guaranteed winning records, but JSU is also bowl inelibile due to transitioning to the FBS.
Looking Ahead (Tops’ Final Three Opponents)
vs. NM State this Saturday, 11/11
vs. Sam Houston State 11/18
at FIU 11/25