WKU Football: Defense Steals Show as Tops Move Above .500 in 48–21 Win over Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky set an FBS-era program record by logging six interceptions on defense and added a fumble to boot as the Hilltoppers defeated the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 48–21, Saturday at L.T. Smith Stadium.
The win was the fifth in the last six tries for the Tops, dating back to the 2015 season. WKU also evened the all-time series, 35–35–1, with the victory.
MT opened the game by marching 75 yards in eight plays in just over three minutes behind back-up quarterback Nick Vattiato to land the first punch, capping off the drive with a 45-yard touchdown pass, to take an early 7–0 lead.
WKU answered right back with a scoring drive of their own, as Bailey Zappe and Daewood Davis connected for a 17-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 7–7.
Two defensive series later, the Hilltoppers picked Vattiato off for the first of their six INT’s on the day, turning the pick into six two plays latter on a Malachi Corley five-yard touchdowns reception, putting the Tops up 14–7.
Back-to-back MTSU drives ended in picks two drives latter, with a 43-yard pick-six by Beanie Bishop and a Jaden Hunter pick at the start of the second quarter, but WKU stalled out around midfield and couldn’t add to their 21–7 lead.
The Blue Raiders answered WKU’s turnover on downs with a touchdown, as Vattiato tossed an absolute dime to Yusuf Ali behind a pair of Topper defenders to pull MT within 21–14.
From there, though, the Hilltoppers decided to turn out the lights, scoring on five of their next seven drives to take a 48–14 lead.
During that stretch, the Toppers got touchdowns from Mitchell Tinsley (10-yard reception), Davis (28-yard reception) and Zappe himself, who recorded his third rushing score of the season, this one from eight-yards out.
Brayden Narveson added field goals of 35 and 43-yards to add to the Tops’ total.
After Zappe’s rushing score, WKU called off the dogs and the defense remained stout, as the Tops were able to cruise to a 5–4 overall record ahead of Rice next week.
By some measurements, it was a bit of a down day for Zappe. He didn’t look completely comfortable in the first half and MT did a good job of clogging up lanes in the second and third levels, forcing Zappe to rely on quick screen passes to Jerreth Sterns which, more often than not, went for no or minimal gain.
Zappe did find more open lanes in the second half and tossed four touchdowns while completing 29 of his 50 pass attempts for 251 yards, a season low (and the first time he’s failed to throw for at least 300 yards in a game this year).
Sterns did set a bit of WKU history on the day, recording his 99th catch this year, setting a new single-season reception mark. He didn’t find the end zone but did catch 11 passes for 110 yards, his seventh 100-yard game this season.
Noah Whittington was something of a revelation for WKU out of the backfield. While his stat line isn’t game breaking (17 carries for 67 yards, both season-bests), he was the perfect change-of-pace option for the Hilltoppers offense and was tough to bring down by the front four for the Raiders.
The Tops, now just one win away from bowl eligibility, will hit the road next week to take on Rice. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT.
