WKU Football: WKU Defeathers the Owls, Take Down FAU on Senior Day, 52–17

Western Kentucky Football continues its rampage through the Conference USA East Division, depositing the Owls like droppings off of the end of a nest on a cool fall night, 52–17.

After dropping the conference opener against UTSA, WKU has reeled off six straight games against what have now all proven to be pretenders for the C-USA crown.

The latest victim was Florida Atlantic, a team that looked like possibly the best team in the East early in the season. At the time, WKU was 1–4, Marshall had lost to MTSU, and the Owls looked to be the clear most likely winner of the division.

Then due to some unfortunate injuries in the back seven of the defense and perhaps just being exposed as an average football team, FAU entered Saturday morning’s clash on a two game losing streak with its season on the ropes, now just hoping to find bowl eligibility.

WKU got off to a fast start Saturday. The starters must have been hoping to party in the Hank Wilson Zone after halftime, because WKU jumped on FAU, stopping the Owls on the first drive and marching straight down the field to go up 7–0. FAU reluctantly responded with a field goal, clearly hoping for more against such a vaunted offense.

Despite nearly 50 yards of penalties within the first three total drives of the game, WKU was still in control. Western would proceed to take a 21–3 lead. To that point, Bailey Zappe was 15–17 for a hair over 200 yards with three touchdowns.

FAU was completely on the ropes, looking dead in the water. The defense was getting stops and the offense was ready to jam more points down Willie T’s gullet. However, his Owls defense had other ideas, picking it off a shade past the 50 yard line on a nice little bit of shadow boxing, returning the interception all the way back. This was Bailey Zappe’s first pick-6 of the season, and it was a big one, allowing a dead-in-the-water but capable opponent back in it with a huge momentum swing.

WKU would immediately respond with an emphatic drive, marching straight down the field without much of a miscue to get back up 28–10.

Ultimately, the Tops battled through these scary moments and led 31–10 at halftime. But again, WKU missed more opportunities for scores, having penalties call back another score which directly resulted in a field goal instead of a touchdown near the end of the half. Again, this was a crucial moment. WKU could have gone into halftime up 35–10 but had to settle for a field goal. A good team could come out at halftime, cut it to 14 immediately, and make a game of it from there. Most teams would not even have hope if they went down 35–10 in the first half.

Once again, WKU makes plenty of mistakes and the overwhelming talent of this offense (and defense) washed away all. But again, watch out for all of these issues if WKU’s next game against Marshall, or God willing, if the Tops beat Marshall, against UTSA in the championship in San Antonio. If WKU has way over 100 yards in costly penalties in a close game, or throw a pick-six, or doesn’t capitalize on a crucial drive, watch out. That could end up being the reason a dream season falls to the wayside.

After halftime, an eventful third quarter ultimately ended in a 7–7 tie. WKU was still firmly in control, 38–17. But in that quarter, WKU temporarily allowed FAU back in it after Bailey Zappe threw his second interception near midfield of the night. This time, there was no return. But FAU would start marching down the field, only to have Beanie Bishop come flying in to pick it off on the sideline at the seven yard line (Bishop also made a huge play in the first half, returning the kickoff for a touchdown, only to have it called back on a holding.). Beanie Bishop was everywhere for the Tops, recording three TFL, a PBU, and four other tackles to lead the team, in addition to the kick return that was not to be.

Although not much happened scoring wise in the third quarter, the two teams combined for seven drives, all eventful, including the two touchdown drives and WKU intercepting the ball inside their own territory twice. Noah Whittington also put the ball on the ground near midfield in a scary moment for WKU fans. FAU had all kinds of momentum and the ball near the 50. And that was when Omari Alexander would pick the ball off almost immediately after. The WKU defense again saved the day for the Tops.

After that crucial exchange, WKU used two big plays by Jerreth Sterns and Mitchell Tinsley (touchdown) amidst three rushed by Adam Cofield to sprint down the field to make the score 38–17 at the end of the third quarter.

WKU would cruise from there, finally taking full control of the game. Joey Beljan would score his second touchdown of the game (scored the third touchdown of the day to put the Tops up 21–3) on another pass from Zappe, and from there, Drew Zaubi took over. All told, Bailey Zappe threw for six touchdowns, two interceptions, and 470 yards, again keeping on pace to break Brandon Doughty’s single season record of 5,055 yards set in his final season in 2015. Zappe only needs 416 to break the record in the final regular season game against Marshall, a total that would be five yards under his season average.

The Tops still weren’t done. In comes backup of the week Drew Zaubi, who actually led a nice drive, and in one of the coolest comeback story moments in a long time, Jakairi Moses finished the drive off with a seven yard touchdown run. A week after announcing he would be entering the transfer portal and leaving WKU after this season, the selfless running back, who is often fourth on the depth chart, did his job and scored his first touchdown since 2017. It’s always nice to see a kid who may not be in his opinion the best spot for him to be successful, but instead of being a child and quitting the team, he does his job and gets rewarded. And credit to the coaching staff for allowing a guy that made a decision to go elsewhere to still have his moment. This was very cool all around and such a beautiful story. We wish him the best of luck moving forward, and frankly, he’s done a heck of a job when he’s been available and in the lineup during his career.

FAU would come out trying to salvage something, only to move the ball a little bit and have FAU transfer Christian Gomez intercept the ball to end the Owls’ final drive in another moment of poetic justice. Former BGHS standout and Navy transfer Jamale Carothers got a few carries and the game was over. Tops won in a rout 52–17.

It was an extraordinary performance in many ways, with the Tops controlling from the opening drive, making almost every important play to prevent a good and certainly talented FAU team from ever really having a chance. It was perhaps WKU’s most impressive win of its previous six, and it was against a team largely assembled by Lane Kiffin, who helped FAU win its only C-USA title in 2019.

WKU produced 608 yards of offense against the Owls while only allowing FAU to gain 301. FAU only gained 25 rushing yards, the fewest yards rushing of the season. Mitchell Tinsley continued his recent tear, and Jerreth Sterns rejoined the 100+ yard party once again. The two combined for 21 receptions, 307 yards, and three touchdowns.

Perhaps the only area of deep concern for WKU in this game was penalties. WKU committed 13, surrendering 116 yards, many of which should have been much more impactful. If it wasn’t for FAU also committing a billion turnovers, WKU could have been in for a much different kind of ballgame.

Regardless, WKU wins, and the win, along with a Marshall win against Charlotte, sets up an epic clash in Huntington in the most important game in the short history of the Moonshine Throwdown. In the final game of the season, the Hilltoppers and the Thundering Herd will do battle for a direct ticket to San Antonio to take on UTSA for the Conference USA Championship.

Follow us for information all week about the Tops and the road to a C-USA Championship. Stay tuned.