WKU Football: Tops Crumble in Murfreesboro in 29–10 Defeat
Western Kentucky (1–8, 0–5 C-USA) has fallen to their worst record through nine games since 2010, when WKU started 1–8 and went 2–10…
Western Kentucky (1–8, 0–5 C-USA) has fallen to their worst record through nine games since 2010, when WKU started 1–8 and went 2–10 overall in Willie Taggart’s first year. On Friday, Western was utterly dominated in a score line that could’ve been worse, falling to bitter rival, Middle Tennessee, in Floyd Stadium.
100 Miles of Hate is WKU’s most heated, most historic rivalry in multiple sports, and this version of it was interesting for a quarter. WKU won the toss, elected to defer, and that was the best part of the game for WKU. Middle promptly seized the lead and never looked back. The Topper defense held on for dear life in the first quarter, trailing 10–3 at the end of the frame despite giving up 125 yards.
WKU unraveled further from there, surrendering another ten points before halftime, including squandering multiple trips into Middle Tennessee territory and allowing enough time to sit on the clock for Middle to go pin up an extra field goal with five seconds remaining in the half, 20–3.
A hideous display overall, to make matters worse, MTSU injured two WKU quarterbacks in a matter of five minutes. Drew Eckels continued his shoulder problems, likely ending his career at WKU with 1:45 left in the third quarter, while Steven Duncan took an absolute beating five minutes into the quarter and had to be ushered off the field. He did return later, but both men were slapped around significantly. In comes Davis Shanley, and WKU proceeded to somehow hang around despite being completely dominated.
Ultimately, MTSU outkicked WKU. MTSU kicked and made five field goals on the night, or the score could’ve been significantly more lopsided. WKU squandered significant numbers of opportunities by a mixture of strange coaching decisions and poor execution in pivotal moments.
Ultimately, WKU was dominated on all fronts, and the Toppers succumbed to the Blue Raiders, who are now in true serious contention for a Conference USA East Division title.
WKU Stats and Notes:
Mike Sanford is now 7–15 at WKU. With three games remaining in 2018, Sanford is off to the worst start by a WKU head coach since Dave Roberts went 6–16 in 1984–1985.
WKU quarterbacks were a combined 34% passing.
No Western Kentucky rusher gained more than 29 yards.
Alex Rinella punted for an average of 48.6 yards Friday night; Rinella was averaging 35.4.
WKU’s blocked field goal was the third of the year. WKU’s special teams continue to plague the Toppers.
MTSU Stats and Notes:
MTSU takes a three game lead in the all-time series against WKU: 35–32–1
Middle freshman running back Chaton (pronounced “Shat-on”) Mobley shat on the Tops for 199 yards on 25 carries.
Before Saturday’s games, MTSU is a half game behind FIU in the C-USA East Division. Middle would need FIU to lose two of three to have its best chance to win the East.
Next Time Out
WKU heads to Boca Raton Saturday, November 10 to battle Florida Atlantic. FAU, a team predicted to win the East Division, is 3–5 overall in 2018 and already out of contention. A game with two teams struggling for any momentum, WKU will look to salvage what it can of a disastrous season, while FAU will be battling for bowl eligibility.