WKU Football: #11 BYU Puts on Offensive Fireworks Show as they Rout Tops 41–10

WKU Football traveled across the country for a Halloween contest against the #11 BYU Cougars. The game played out like most expected as WKU was pretty much out of it midway through the second quarter.

BYU’s offense would score a touchdown on all five drives of the first half as Heisman trophy candidate Zach Wilson put on a passing clinic against the Hilltopper defense as he gashed the unit for 312 first-half yards.

WKU’s offense actually showed some progress early as they ran the ball for 64 yards and Tyrrell Pigrome would convert several third-down passes but usual problems like drops, penalties, and fumbles repeatedly gave the ball back to the Cougars high powered offense. The main highlight of the first half for WKU was a 44-yard field goal by Brayden Narveson.

The defense offered little to no resistance against the Cougars and when they did force a stop they regularly negated by boneheaded penalties. The Cougars would take a 35–3 lead into the locker room.

WKU would start off the third quarter with a 20 play 86 yard drive that took 10 minutes off the clock but Gaej Walker got stuffed on fourth and goal and the big drive results in zero points.

Dionte Ruffin would intercept Wilson on the ensuing drive and return it back to the 3-yard line. The Tops would capitalize as Pigrome found Josh Simon on a shovel pass to make it 35–10 with 3:09 left in the third.

BYU would add a field goal to get their lead up to 38–10 at the start of the fourth quarter. They would tack on a field goal and WKU couldn’t muster any more points as the Cougars cruised to a 41–10 Win as the Hilltoppers fell to 2–5 on the season.

Here are a few thoughts on tonight’s loss:

• BYU is a legit top 10 team. Their offense can put up points on anyone and Wilson is a legit Heisman candidate. It’s been a long time since we saw the Tops get manhandled on the road like that.
• The defense’s regression from last season continues to maddening. Last year is looking more and more like the outlier in Clayton White’s tenure as defensive coordinator. There is no shame in giving up yards to a good team like BYU but the lack of discipline and nonexistent pressure continues to be a hard pill to swallow after a great 2019.
• WKU might have found a formula to be successful on offense. The offensive line was lights out and the running backs responded, topping 100+ yards for the second game in a row. If they can avoid falling behind they may be able to grind out some wins against some other mediocre teams (USM, FIU, Charlotte) down the stretch. There were also zero three and outs tonight.
• Piggy wasn’t bad tonight, his ceiling isn’t very high as he still struggles to push the ball downfield but you can tell the coaching staff has figured out how to call a game with him at the helm.

The Tops (2–5) return to the field next Saturday for the Willie Taggart Bowl against FAU (2–1). A season full of disappointment rolls on whether we like it or not.

Here are your final stats from yet another disappointing loss: