WKU Football: Tops Use 47 Point Second Half to Blow Past Marshall, 53-21, Clinch C-USA East
Western Kentucky clinches its first Conference USA Championship appearance since 2016 against its most consistent C-USA rival.
Anybody tuning into postgame commentary on this game probably thinks this was just another Western Kentucky blowout, but it was nothing but. For three quarters, this was a ball game, and by ball game, I mean a heck of a ball freaking game.
This was a war, the stuff legends are made of, and it’s unfortunate that WKU knocked Marshall starting quarterback Grant Wells out of the game with ten minutes left in the second quarter, or this rivalry game may have turned out much differently.
Marshall came out and did what WKU has allowed several times this season: An early first quarter lead. But this time, it was not just WKU playing matador and olé! allowing teams to march down the field.
The Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky returned the ball to the 30 yard line to start their first drive. The Tops quickly folded their tent, punting the ball from their own 36 down to the 21 of Marshall. Marshall proceeded to trudge their way down the field with a bludgeoning 15 play, 79 yard drive that ate up 6:58 of clock with no play going for more than 12 yards besides a pass interference on WKU.
Marshall really made a statement with that drive, and for most of the first half, even after Wells’ injury (which became clearly game ending near halftime), the Tops looked like they were in deep trouble.
Marshall would stop WKU on downs at the Marshall 43, giving the Herd even more momentum. The Herd would trudge down for another long drive, considering they only had 57 yards to go, and they would toss up a nice looking floater ball to a wide open Devin Miller, high pointing the ball and coming down cleanly with the three yard pass for the second touchdown in two drives for the Herd.
From that point, WKU outscored Marshall 53-7. However, the game did not feel like that type of dominance until nearly the fourth quarter. Western and Marshall would then undergo several short drives in a field position battle, with WKU dominating the starting position. Finally, WKU’s superstar defensive end DeAngelo Malone dealt what turned out to be the turning point: A devastating wrap-around sack, crushing the Marshall quarterback, and at the time, we didn’t know what the extent of that damage was. However, Marshall quarterback Grant Wells would not return.
WKU would finally get on the board shortly after with a 41 yard field goal by Brayden Narveson, which again felt like a win for Marshall. So the score stood at 14-3, and Marshall would again drive inside WKU territory, only to get stopped at the WKU 45 on a line-of-scrimmage stuff on 4th-and-1 by Kendrick Simpkins and Antwon Kincade.
The visiting team from south central Kentucky would again go on a drive, but the Tops would stall slightly inside Marshall territory, barely getting in field goal range and relying on Narveson to nail an even longer field goal, this time a 46 yarder that brought the Tops within a possession, 14-6.
Again, to explain how the game felt at this point, Marshall was firmly in control. They were yet to allow WKU to reach the end zone, and Bailey Zappe was horrendous, at one point 4-of-14 for 17 yards well into the game. He was terrible, and he was missing some open receivers. The Topper offense had 33 total yards after the first quarter, and only had 158 to end the half. More importantly, the Tops only scored six, far and away their lowest output in one half all season. Their previous low was 14 against Army and Indiana. But even those games had momentum heading into halftime.
This time, WKU had yet another opportunity to score. WKU stops Marshall (In hindsight, absolutely massive that Marshall did not extend its lead before halftime. An eight point lead vanished after halftime in a few minutes.) and gets the ball at its own 19 with 1:28 left. Naturally, most teams wouldn’t assume the likelihood of scoring a touchdown, but I know we looked around the room and said, “Oh we caught it at the 19? And he has 1:28? That should be plenty of time.” And what do you know? WKU moved the ball, but unlike normal, they barely got across the 50 and stalled at the Marshall 29, kicking a 47 yard field goal that Narveson knuckle balled, barely getting the football 15 yards in the air, clanking it off of the crossbar. Then Marshall took over, took a knee, and the half was over.
Those who watched the game really know. That game felt like Marshall’s after the first half. WKU got stymied at every turn. I’m sure Marshall fans felt good. WKU fans were mostly pessimistic, despite only being down eight and having played horribly. Very few saw through the quagmire of all that happened in that first half to see WKU had the upper hand.
CBS Sports did a good job communicating what was going on, and near the end of the first half, we pretty much knew backup QB Luke Zban was going to lead Marshall the rest of the way, and we certainly knew Grant Wells, if he somehow came back in, would be severely hampered with whatever injury he had. Then at halftime, it was public information that he would not play the rest of the game.
So right near the end of the first half, WKU fans had to be feeling decent, but when Narveson clanked that floating duck off of the crossbar, it was yet another kick in the gut. Then again, the fan paying attention knows the Western Kentucky offense can score in bunches, so regardless of the tone of the game, the Tops were truly within a score of tying it, let alone the fact that five minutes of effort could have flipped the game on its head.
So the emotions were swirling for everyone invested. I’m sure both sides felt differently. I’m sure Lance Guidry (who has significant WKU ties) was thinking his defense was slaying it. I’m sure Zach Kittley felt like the Tops had squandered some opportunities. I’m certain WKU fans at home and at the game were feeling sick to their stomach wishing the Tops hadn’t crapped their pants, because that’s what people were saying at halftime in our mentions! The other half were feeling decent about only being down eight. So there was a wide range of emotions emanating from all parties.
So heading into the second half, Marshall gets the ball. This was a huge moment. Marshall comes out and not only goes three and out, but starts the drive and actually moves back two yards, then punts only 35 yards to the 42. So not only does Marshall squander its possession advantage, WKU only needs 58 yards to pay dirt. Two plays later, Daewood Davis goes 47 yards to the end zone. And an interesting decision here that I completely agree with: Down 14-12, WKU just kicks an extra point. Why? Because Tops got plenty more scorin’ to do, so that extra point doesn’t affect your normal decision making right now. If you’re in the fourth quarter, go ahead and tie the game. But the style of the game was changing, so let’s plan to score a whole bunch more. It sent a message, and I believe missing a two point conversion could have given Marshall some momentum back.
Instead, Marshall receives the kickoff, starts from the 25, and only goes ten yards, this time after only getting one first down. This time punting 43 yards, Marshall does win the field position battle, but not significantly. WKU had a normal or so field to go to score the go-ahead touchdown, and the Tops did it with a ton of plays in their vomit level pace offense in about two and a half minutes. To be precise, WKU fired off nine plays in 2:21, snapping the ball every 15 seconds. So WKU is now up 20-14, again not going for two, planning on scoring more and not going after the obvious seven point advantage versus just going for the sure points.
And score more they did. WKU stopped Marshall, again winning the field position battle, starting on the 50 yard line. Daewood Davis gets loose on play one for 50 yards, and the rest was history…besides going for two randomly after neglecting to go for it on the previous two possessions. Not a big deal in the end, but why make it 14 instead of 13 with more than a quarter to play? Not expecting Marshall to score two more scores is underestimating your opponent. Anyway it didn’t cost the Tops, but I don’t see the value going for two randomly when Marshall could score a field goal and a touchdown in the next five minutes and be down two, only needing a field goal to win vs. tie the game if you just kicked the extra point. Too many variables could happen to go for it that early. Not a big deal, but again, blowouts wash away many sins.
So WKU goes up 26-14, and the rout was on. From there, WKU would add a 53 yard field goal (!!!) and finish a drive early in the fourth quarter to go up 36-14 before finally allowing Marshall to score by way of a 41 yard pass to Shadeed Ahmed. Once again, Marshall is back within striking distance. And what happens? Marshall attempts an onside kick. Smart, respectable decision. What’s not smart? Allowing WKU to pick up a clean ball and sprint to the end zone for an onside kick returned for touchdown. A.J. Brathwaite, a starter on defense, picks up an easy bounce, Marshall overplays, and Brathwaite makes it to the 15 without even being threatened, navigating a few people to get to the end zone. And again, the Tops are up 43-21.
Western would then continue to corral the Herd. Then, WKU goes on a lengthy (and surprising) seven minute drive, eating up tons of clock and only leaving Marshall 1:12 remaining after kicking another lengthy field goal, this time only 39 yards long. To add salt to the wound, WKU’s Davion Williams would pick off a second down pass by Luke Zban and return it 45 yards for another score, setting up the final tally, 53-21.
All told, WKU did exactly what it wanted from the beginning: Outscore its opponent and keep the opponent’s offense at bay enough to win easily. But that was just not the actual feel of the game. This was a war, and hopefully WKU and Marshall truly respect each other, because although that was an ugly blowout at the end, that was a game into the fourth quarter. If Marshall had all of its weapons (on both offense and defense), this may have not only been a different score line, but perhaps there would have been another victor. Regardless, WKU spotted Marshall 14 points and still cruised, and UTSA, who lost to North Texas in its own blowout (albeit in a meaningless game), now must be shaking in its Roadrunnin’ boots, because WKU has now quelled any questions about about facing a team that can actually stop someone. Western easily handled a really, really good team that was playing well in Marshall, who lost to UAB three weeks ago by seven, who nearly beat UTSA if it weren’t for two inches to get a first down to ice the Roadrunners.
The Toppers’ loss to UTSA in early October is relevant, because it makes UTSA feel like it can beat WKU. Because they have. That therefore means it could happen again. However, WKU is a completely different team, and it is completely playing a different level of football compared to where both teams were in October. Since playing UTSA and losing 52-46 at home, WKU has won seven straight, not allowing a single opponent to score any more than 21. Meanwhile, the offense has scored no less than 34 in that same stretch.
And arguably, UTSA may possibly (?) be taking a step backwards heading into this tilt in San Antonio next Friday at 6 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. So Topper fans, it’s time to cancel everything and head to San Antonio. Because you have got a date with destiny, and she smiles brightly upon you.