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TEZ JOHNSON HITTING QB GABE WATSON IN THE END ZONE
FOR A 7-YARD TD PASS IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
HILLTOPPERS HIT THE ROAD NEXT WEEK FOR UT-SAN ANTONIO
Western Kentucky’s football team fell behind in the third quarter and never recovered in a 34-27 loss to Troy University on Saturday night at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
The Hilltoppers dropped to 3-2 on the season and will resume Conference USA play next week against defending league champion Texas-San Antonio. The Roadrunners swept WKU in two games last season, including a 49-41 victory over the Hilltoppers in the C-USA championship game at the Alamodome.
One week after mopping the floor with Florida International, a 73-0 victory over the hopelessly outmatched Panthers, the Hilltoppers’ offensive line struggled with a big, strong Troy defense. WKU quarterback Austin Reed put up decent numbers, completed 39 of 56 passes for 406 yards and three touchdowns.
Reed also was sacked five times.
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406 YARDS AND THREE TOUCHDOWNS.
“I thought Troy’s front seven played very well,” fifth-year WKU coach Tyson Helton said when it was over. “They got a good push, on the pass rush, and their coverage was solid. I think there were times where we might have held onto the ball too long.
“When we needed to convert, a third down, we didn’t convert, and on defense, when we needed a stop, we couldn’t come up with one.”
Troy improved to 3-2 on the season, facing the Hilltoppers for the first time since 2013.
WKU fell behind 34-20 in the fourth quarter, but Reed and the Hilltoppers offense got in the end zone to make it 34-27 with 4:20 left in the game. The WKU defense got the ball back before Reed was sacked on a second-down play near midfield, fumbling the ball away to the Trojans’ Antonio Showers.
I’ll have complete coverage on the game Sunday morning. Thanks for reading.
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TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO NEXT WEEK.