IN THE SECOND HALF AGAINST SAM HOUSTON.
McIVOR’s WKU DEBUT OPENED SOME EYES, BUT HELTON EXPECTING IMPROVEMENT
Western Kentucky was one of a handful of NCAA football teams playing in “Week Zero” last weekend, and the Hilltoppers showed some grit and resilience in pulling away for the decisive victory in the Conference USA opening game against the Bearkats.
Conference USA recognized four Hilltoppers as the league’s Offensive Player of the Week, with senior transfer quarterback Maverick McIvor — who passed for 401 yards and three touchdowns, without an interception — leading the way after WKU’s impressive 41-24 victory at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
Along with McIvor, C-USA named senior defensive back Jalen Lewis its Defensive Player of the Week, while veteran punter Cole Maynard taking special-teams honors along with Freshman of the Week Marvis Parrish, who had 110 all-purpose yards, including a 22-yard touchdown reception on a third-quarter pass from McIvor.
That was all well and good, for WKU coach Tyson Helton and his staff, but Helton’s message earlier this week is that the Tops have plenty of room for improvement.
Western Kentucky plays host to North Alabama, an FCS school with a winning tradition, on Saturday night before taking its first road trip of the year to Toledo. The Hilltoppers are a prohibitive favorite in this game, but Helton is taking nothing for granted.
“I’m one that will say, ‘Hey, good job, but we need to do this, this and this,'” Helton said. “You make sure problems that come up are corrected, and we had several in all three phases.”
‘WE’VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF MOMENTUM.’
IN CONFERENCE USA OPENERS
SINCE JOINING THE LEAGUE IN 2014.
For instance, the WKU defense gave up a 55-yard touchdown run, through the middle of the field, on a quarterback draw by Sam Houston’s Hunter Watson in the opening moments of the second quarter. The Bearkats later converted a WKU fumble for a ‘scoop and score’ in the third quarter, putting Sam Houston in front, 24-20, but the Hilltoppers quickly recovered on McIvor’s touchdown passes to K.D. Hutchinson and Parrish in the third quarter.
The WKU defense allowed just two third-down conversions, too, which allowed the Tops to control the ball for nearly 33 minutes in the game. But Helton and his staff found plenty of areas in which he expects them to improve heading into their second game of the season.
“Maverick had some really good numbers,” Helton said, “Man, those numbers look great. But he’s got so much better football, in the tank, than that. He missed some reads, here and there … We’ve got to make sure those issues that came up, in the game, get corrected.”
FOR 401 YARDS AND THREE TDs
IN HIS HILLTOPPERS DEBUT.
First-year WKU offensive coordinator Rick Bowie was quick to concur.
“Plenty of good, plenty to coach,” Bowie said. “We’ve put that game to bed, and we’re moving forward.”
The game featured four lead changes, and WKU co-defensive coordinator Davis Merritt said the Hilltoppers were equal to the task after falling behind, 24-20, in the third quarter.
“Our guys didn’t blink,” he said. “They’ve bought in, to what we’re doing here.”
Merritt expects North Alabama to emphasize its running game, in its opening game against the Tops. The Hilltoppers have built some depth, on the defensive line, which allowed them to control the line of scrimmage against Sam Houston.
Helton was pleased with the Hilltoppers’ ability to make plays in the backfield, and WKU’s offensive line provided good protection for McIvor, the transfer from Abilene Christian. The Tops also were penalized only twice in the game.
“We’ve got a little bit of momentum, going into this game,” Helton said. “We missed a couple of explosive plays on offense. North Alabama has good players on both sides of the ball, but they haven’t played yet. So we’ve got to focus on ourselves.”
Veteran WKU offensive lineman Marshall Jackson, the Tops’ only returning starter up front, was joined in the starting lineup by four players who came to Western via the NCAA Transfer Portal. They include left guard Laurence Seymore, who played at Akron last season, along with center Elijah Williams (Kent State), right guard Quincy Jenkins (James Madison) and right tackle Devon Smith (Louisiana-Monroe).
“I like our starting five,” Helton said. “With Mav being a right-handed quarterback, we wanted Marshall on his blind side … They’re sitting in the room right now, saying, ‘We’ve got to protect the quarterback.'”
WKU’s Maverick McIvor might have put it best, immediately after the four-hour game on Saturday night.
“That was a good step in the right direction,” he said.
The Hilltoppers will try to take another one against North Alabama.
SCORES IN THE THIRD QUARTER
AGAINST SAM HOUSTON.