WKU Football: Gameday Information For First Responder Bowl Against Western Michigan
After a month off, WKU football finally takes the field one last time in Dallas to take on the Western Michigan Broncos in the First…
After a month off, WKU football finally takes the field one last time in Dallas to take on the Western Michigan Broncos in the First Responder Bowl. The Hilltoppers are looking to finish Tyson Helton’s debut at 9–4 and put a bow on a great season.
If you need to know any of the game information, look no further — we have you covered.
Location
Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Dallas, Texas
Time
11:30 AM CT
Weather Forecast
TV
ESPN
-Dave Neal (Play-By-Play) & D.J. Shockley (Analyst) & Dawn Davenport (Sideline) on the call
Radio
- Randy Lee (Play by Play) & Leo Peckenpaugh (Analyst) & Terry Obee (Reporter) on the call
Gameday Information
Watch Parties
Bowling Green- Hilligans
Louisville Alumni Chapter- Buffalo Wild Wings
North Kentucky Alumni Chapter- Buffalo Wings & Rings
Heartland Alumni Chapter (Elizabethtown)- Buffalo Wild Wings
Lexington- KSBar & Grille
Betting Lines from Sportsline.com
Western Kentucky -3.5
Over/ Under: 55
Moneyline: Western Kentucky -167
Current Records
WKU: 8–4 (6–2 in Conference USA)
Western Michigan: 7–5 (5–3 in MAC)
Last Game
On November 30th, WKU hosted arch-rival Middle Tennessee during a driving rainstorm on Senior day. Both teams would trade scores throughout the first half as MTSU would take a 13–10 lead into the locker room. Ty Storey would connect with Lucky Jackson on a 64-yard touchdown pass to give WKU its first lead of the game. The Blue Raiders wouldn’t go away as they’d reclaim the lead in the fourth quarter before WKU would score two straight touchdowns and claim a 31–20 lead. Middle would add a garbage-time touchdown but WKU would prevail 31–26 clinching an 8–4 regular season for Tyson Helton.
On November 26th with the MAC West Division title on the line, Western Michigan traveled to Dekalb, Illinois to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies. The Broncos dug themselves a hole and were shut out 10–0 in the first half. LaVante Bellamy would cut the Husky lead to 3 in the third quarter but a 4th quarter NIU touchdown pass from Michael Love to Mitchell Brinkman would prove to be enough for a 17–14 NIU victory to deny WMU the MAC West Division Title.
Coaches
Tyson Helton- 1st Season- 8–4 Overall
Tim Lester- 3rd Season- 20–17 Overall
Series
Last Meeting
Way back in 1947 Western Michigan hosted Western Kentucky in Kalamazoo. WKU played the Broncos tough for a half trailing by a score of 6–0 after two quarters. That wouldn’t last as the Broncos took control in the third quarter scoring three touchdowns before routing the Hilltoppers 38–0 for their third straight win in the series. Western Kentucky would finish the 1947 season 3–4–2 in head coach Jesse Thomas’s last season. Western Michigan would finish 5–4 in 1947.
Relevant Reading
Injury Report by USA Today
For WKU:
LB- Eli Brown- Out- Foot
RB- Jakairi Moses- Out- Knee
QB- Steven Duncan- Out- Foot
For Western Michigan
RB- Devan Bass- Out- Undisclosed
RB- LeVante Bellamy- Questionable- Knee
TE- Wade Buckman- Out- Undisclosed
G- Trevor Campbell- Out- Undisclosed
WR- D’Wayne Eskridge- Out- Collarbone
DT- Wesley French- Out- Foot
LB- Corvin Moment- Out- Eligibility
OL- Tom O’Mara- Out- Undisclosed
WR- Damari Roberson- Out- Knee
Christian Singleton- Out- Undisclosed
LB- Matthew Stuckey- Out- Undisclosed
TE- Anthony Torres- Out- Knee
Excitement Level — 9
After how last season played out everyone is pretty happy to just get back to a bowl. WKU blew their preseason expectations out of the water and now have a golden opportunity to put a bow on a bounceback season to finish 9–4. Western Michigan is a solid opponent that most Hilltopper fans expect to beat. Should the Hilltoppers pull off the win, WKU will have legitimate Conference USA Title aspirations next season. Let’s enjoy watching this special team one last time and hopefully, it will be Dear Old Western’s Day.
Go Tops. We’ll be providing live coverage and reaction of the First Responder Bowl. If you’ve made the trip to Dallas please send us your tailgating and in-game pictures via Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebook page and we’ll share.