WKU Football: Tops Overcome Blown Lead In 33–21 Win Over Ball State
It wasn’t pretty, but WKU rallied after blowing a 10 point lead as Mike White and Jakairi Moses put WKU ahead for good late in the fourth…
It wasn’t pretty, but WKU rallied after blowing a 10 point lead as Mike White and Jakairi Moses put WKU ahead for good late in the fourth quarter and Joe Brown sealed a 33–21 victory over Ball State.
Prior to the game, it was announced that Ball State’s starting quarterback Riley Neal and running back James Gilbert would both be out due to injury. Despite playing with back-ups at two of their most crucial positions, the Cardinals gave the Hilltoppers all they could handle on Parent’s Night.
The first half was promising, even with some crucial mistakes. WKU took advantage of a short field and drove 58 yards on 13 plays, culminating with a six-yard touchdown pass from Mike White to Deon Yelder.
After trading a few punts and allowing the Cardinals to tie the game, WKU took control in the second quarter. Ryan Nuss hit a 40 yard field goal and Marquez Trigg rumbled for a two-yard touchdown drive to cap off a six play, 47 yard drive to take a 17–7 lead into the locker room.
The second half was a different story all together as turnovers, poor execution and sloppy play by Mike White almost doomed the Hilltoppers.
The defense forced a three and out and then after a quick drive, WKU pinned Ball State on their own one yard line to start off the half. Drell Greene picked off Ball State quarterback Jack Milas to give WKU great field position midway through the third quarter. WKU drove it down to the 11 yard line and then Mike White inexplicably threw a backbreaking interception (his second redzone interception of the game) to Bryce Cosby to keep the Cardinals in the game.
Ball State proceeded to drive 80 yards to cut the deficit to 17–14 with 2:16 left in the third quarter. WKU briefly answered, ending their scoring drought with a Ryan Nuss 35-yard field goal to push the lead to 20–14.
Both teams traded punts and WKU squandered great starting field position multiple times due to untimely sacks and poor throws by White. Ball State then marched 59 yards and scored a touchdown on a three yard run by former WKU commit Caleb Huntley to take a 21–20 lead with just less than five minutes to play.
Mike White had four minutes and 50 seconds to erase a repeat meltdown from the prior week. He and the offense passed the test with flying colors, marching the Hilltoppers 76 yards on eight plays, capped off with a five yard touchdown from Jakairi Moses. White misfired on the two point conversion and WKU clung to a 26–21 lead with a 1:38 remaining.
WKU’s defense then pinned their ears back and Joe Brown sealed the victory on a pick six to give the Tops a 33–21 victory.
After the near meltdown, I think we’ll all take a victory any way we can get one. Mike White finished the day 28-for-44 passing for 319 yards but had two terrible interceptions to go with his touchdown pass to Yelder.
There were plenty of bright spots, including another solid defensive effort by Clayton White’s unit, which forced three turnovers. Jakairi Moses also showed plenty of potential as a game-changing running back even if his stats (56 yards on 12 carries) weren’t gaudy.
WKU heads into the bye week at 2–2. They have plenty of things to work on but the momentum of tonight’s win and the upcoming schedule of UTEP and Charlotte (combined 0–8) lends itself to a big potential bounce back heading into the second half of the season. Here are the stats from tonight’s crucial victory:
What did you think about the win? Did the fourth quarter drive encourage you heading into the bye week? Hit us up in a comment below, on Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebook page.