FOR 305 YARDS AND FIVE TOUCHDOWNS
IN A 55-6 VICTORY OVER NORTH ALABAMA.
WKU TAKES A 2-0 RECORD ON FIRST ROAD TRIP TO TOLEDO
Truth be told, it was just another day at the office.
Or evening.
Western Kentucky University’s football team had no trouble against FCS opponent North Alabama in Saturday night’s non-conference game at Houchens-Smith Stadium. The Hilltoppers needed some time, to find an offensive rhythm, but they did just that, striking for 28 second-quarter points in a methodical 55-6 victory over the Lions before a paid crowd of 12,226 at The Houch.
Now things start to get interesting.
The Hilltoppers hit the road to square off with the University of Toledo, a solid team from the Mid-American Conference, next weekend. Western Kentucky (2-0, 1-0 in Conference USA) persevered through a 75-minute weather delay and erased a nine-point deficit in the second half to stun the Rockets, 26-21, last season in Bowling Green.
THEIR FIRST 3-0 START SINCE 1997.
WITH 563 YARDS IN TOTAL OFFENSE.
IN THE SECOND QUARTER.
AND THE HILLTOPPERS ARE ON THE ROAD
NEXT SATURDAY AGAINST TOLEDO.
FIVE RECEPTIONS FOR 113 YARDS
AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS.
Seventh-year WKU head coach Tyson Helton was pleased that he could empty his bench in the second half, including the Tops’ first look at backup quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr., a 6-foot-2, 190-pound redshirt freshman from Jacksonville, Florida. Tisdale took over for McIvor, the Hilltoppers’ senior transfer QB through the NCAA Transfer Portal, in the final five minutes of the third quarter.
McIvor put up the gaudy numbers, completing 24 of 31 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns, but Tisdale turned in a solid showing for himself. Tisdale completed six of eight passes for 94 yards and a score, an 8-yard touchdown pass to WKU teammate Marvin Sims in the opening moments of the fourth quarter.
“It was good to see a lot of different guys get to play tonight, so got some good evaluations,” Helton said when it was over. “We’ve got two wins at home, so that’s good, now we’ve got to go on the road and play a really good Toledo team. It’ll be a great challenge for us, but looking forward to that challenge.
“Pleased about tonight.”
HIT THEIR STRIDE IN THE SECOND QUARTER.
HAS PASSED FOR 706 YARDS AND
NINE TOUCHDOWNS IN THE TOPS’ FIRST TWO GAMES.
GOT SIGNIFICANT PLAYING TIME.
HAVE BEEN SOLID IN THE FIRST TWO GAMES.
Toledo gave the University of Kentucky all it could handle on Saturday afternoon in Lexington, as the Wildcats turned back the Rockets, 24-18, at Kroger Field.
WKU wideout K.D. Hutchinson came up with a spectacular one-handed catch before taking it the distance for a 78-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. That score put the Tops in front, 28-6, and the die had been cast for the visitors from Florence, Alabama.
“(Hutchinson) made a one-handed catch … That was insane,” McIvor said with a smile in the postgame press conference.
McIvor and Tisdale shared the wealth against the Lions, completing passes to 14 different receivers. The Hilltoppers added 164 yards rushing, with senior WKU running back George Hart III scoring the Hilltoppers’ first touchdown on a 1-yard run to open the scoring. Defensively, senior linebacker Dominic Oliver had two tackles for losses, including a sack, while sturdy lineman Harper Holloman, a sophomore from Atlanta, added a sack while breaking up two passes in the backfield.
North Alabama likes to emphasize the running game, but the Hilltoppers understood that to complete the task at hand.
“You can’t rush the passer if you can’t stop the run,” Holloman said. “There’s always room for improvement.”
AND TEAMMATE DOMINIC OLIVER KEPT
THE LIONS OUT OF THE END ZONE.
TURNED IN A SOLID PERFORMANCE
FOR THE HILLTOPPERS.
ON A 78-YARD TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION.
THE HILLTOPPERS ARE ON THE ROAD
ON SATURDAY AGAINST TOLEDO.
That was WKU coach Tyson Helton’s message after Opening Night, when the Hilltoppers stormed back to dismantle Sam Houston State, 41-24, in a “Week Zero” game at Houchens-Smith Stadium. On Saturday night, the Tops just needed to hit the field and take care of their business.
“We respect all of our opponents,” Oliver said. “We just want to be physical, and play to the best of our ability.”
WKU quarterback Maverick McIvor, the son of former University of Texas QB Rick McIvor, has thrown for 706 yards and nine touchdowns in the Hilltoppers’ first two games. He has not yet been intercepted. The Tops led 42-6 at halftime on Saturday night, but Helton wanted to give him at least a couple more offensive series before passing the baton to WKU teammate Rodney Tisdale Jr.
“You’re always going to chase perfection … The work’s in the dirt,” McIvor said.
The Hilltoppers’ Jarius Mack and Quincy Burroughs had touchdown receptions in the decisive second quarter, and WKU cashed in on an early opportunity when North Alabama muffed a first-quarter punt.
This one was never in doubt.
“We let the competition drive us,” WKU wideout K.D. Hutchinson said.
The Hilltoppers will be looking for WKU’s first 3-0 start since 1997, when Western was still playing NCAA Division I-AA football. Above all else, the Tops had a chance to establish some depth on Saturday night.
“It was really good to see Rodney Tisdale go out there and sling the ball around,” WKU quarterback Maverick McIvor said. “He’s really, really talented. Those guys really work hard, in practice and throughout the year.
“It was good to see those guys get out there and get some meaningful snaps.”
ENJOYS THE VICTORY WITH
THE HILLTOPPERS’ PLAYERS.
AND BRIAN DAVIS IN THE WKU PRESS BOX.
BAKE IN THE EVENING HEAT …
LAST YEAR IN BOWLING GREEN.
BEING THE UNDERDOG …