Jim Mashek

WKU GETS FIRST OPEN DATE BEFORE FACING DELAWARE ON OCTOBER 27 AT THE HOUCH

We knew the Western Kentucky University football schedule was nothing less than a labyrinth when it was released in the spring.

The University of Cincinnati’s buyout, of an opening game against the Hilltoppers at WKU’s Houchens-Smith Stadium, forced Todd Stewart’s hand, and Western Kentucky had to open the season on the road, against the University of Nevada, in a night game on September 5 in Reno, Nevada.

Before the back-to-back games against the University of Georgia, perhaps the most talented team in college football, and Indiana University, the upstart but defending national champion. After a breather, at home, against FCS newcomer Mercyhurst (Pa.), the Hilltoppers would take another long road trip, to face New Mexico State, in their Conference USA opening game on October 1 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The Tops would return from that venture with a 1-4 record, after the Aggies hammered WKU, 34-13.

The season was in danger of slipping away.

Somewhere, right now, Oscar Madison is bellowing, “Sweetheart, get me Rewrite …”

The Hilltoppers returned to Bowling Green for their first home game in Conference USA play, a Thursday night affair against FBS newcomer Missouri State. Transfer WKU quarterback Brock Glenn, a veteran who paid his dues at tradition-rich Florida State, ignited a sturdy running attack and the Hilltoppers buried Mo State, 34-13, at The Houch. Conference USA commissioner Judy MacLeod was in the house, defending the weeknight C-USA games, because of the opportunity to play on CABLE television and market their brand.

WKU had another short work week in the last eight days, and the Hilltoppers definitely made the most of it.

The Hilltoppers hopped on a plane for the 800-mile journey to Huntsville, Texas, to face another squad getting its feet wet against FBS competition, Sam Houston University, on Wednesday night. They were still looking for their first road victory of the season. And the pressure cooker was on the rise.

No problem.

Glenn again got the start at QB, instead of promising redshirt sophomore Rodney Tisdale, Jr., but the Bearkats were ready for his run-pass option plays, unlike Missouri State six nights earlier. This time, the Hilltoppers had to bank on their defense.

And this time, the WKU defense delivered.

Sam Houston State converted just two of 13 third-down plays, into first downs, while the Tops’ defense allowed just 177 yards total offense. Irish placekicker Karl Campbell connected on three field-goal attempts, after the Hilltoppers’ Coleson Arends scored on a 23-yard touchdown reception on WKU’s first series of the night. Western Kentucky’s defense went air-tight and the Hilltoppers stopped the Bearkats cold, winning 16-3 on a warm Wednesday night at Bowers Stadium.

(Bowers Stadium, if you didn’t know, is right down the street from the Texas Department of Corrections’ Walls Unit, with sharpshooters on the roof and a death-penalty chamber inside. It’s all part of the Sam Houston Experience, which includes a 75-foot statue of “Big Sam” on Interstate 45, in tribute to the military leader who became the Republic of Texas’ first president after Santa Ana was brought to his knees in San Jacinto.

(I took a whole semester of “Texas History” as an eighth grader at Spring Forest Junior High, on the west side of Houston, in the late ’60s, so there’s few details about the Lone Star State that escape me.)

Sam Houston State had plenty of success as an NCAA Division I-AA squad, while competing in the Southland Conference, including a national championship in the 2020-21 season. They’ve had plenty of turnover in the coaching ranks, while WKU’s Tyson Helton is in his eighth season as the Hilltoppers’ head coach, but Sam Houston’s Phil Longo and his coaching staff could get nothing going against the swarming WKU defense.

The Hilltoppers are still missing senior playmaker Jaylen Wester, whose eligibility has been suspended in a legal battle, but Helton and third-year WKU defensive coordinator Davis Merritt have a rising star in another linebacker, true freshman Westen Ard. Ard did it all on Wednesday night in Huntsville, finishing with a team-high 10 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for losses.

You could hear the excitement in Ard’s voice when he did a postgame interview with WKU Radio’s Jared Holland after the game.

Helton was equally enthused, and sounded a little relieved, that the Hilltoppers have given themselves a chance to make something of their season, and possibly contend for their first Conference USA championship since their back-to-back conference titles in 2015 and ’16. They’re 3-4 now, and 2-1 in C-USA, heading into their Tuesday night tilt against Delaware on October 27 at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

Win that game, and take traditional rival MTSU down in their next conference game, in Murfreesboro, on November 5, and the Hilltoppers will have a winning record going into the final stretch against Kennesaw State, Liberty University — aka Jerry Falwell U. — and Jacksonville State, with only Liberty taking place on the road, in Lynchburg, Virginia.

The Tops have teetered, at times, but they seem to be on solid footing going into their next game against Delaware. Helton will give his players a little time off, to catch up with their academic work and tend to their health concerns, before they strap it on again, with a recharged battery for the final five games of the season.

It’s been a daunting task, any way you slice it.

But the Hilltoppers have put themselves in position to make something of what’s been a challenging season.

Stay tuned.