G5 Football Daily

WKU Football: Every Scoring Play From 31-10 Win Over Middle Tennessee

The Hilltoppers have now won five-straight games over their oldest rivals

Joe Londergan

WKU Football: Every Scoring Play From 31-10 Win Over Middle Tennessee
WKU Football: Every Scoring Play From 31-10 Win Over Middle Tennessee /
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Coming off of a road loss to Troy, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers were hungry for a victory to begin Conference USA play. It wasn't a perfect game, but the Tops looked closer to what we've come to expect from them under Tyson Helton.

Particularly, the offense was able to make more of the big plays we're used to seeing them execute. That helped WKU find their way to a 31-10 victory with four touchdowns and a field goal.

The scoring started with an 18-yard catch-and-run from Davion Ervin-Poindexter, who stretched out hit the pylon for his first touchdown of the season.

The Tops added to the lead later in the first quarter with Lucas Carneiro's only field goal attempt of the night. The 45-yard make was a new career-long for him. Carneiro would miss an extra point later in the evening, one of a handful of blemishes on this game for Western Kentucky.

After a sluggish start to the second quarter, the Tops finished a 13-play, 75-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Austin Reed to Easton Messer. In addition toΒ  his third touchdown catch of the season, the freshman from Louisville caught four balls for 43 yards in this game.Β 

To end the half, WKU were then able to capitalize off a lost MTSU fumble by getting inside the one-yard line. That was enough for Reed to run a QB sneak into the end zone with some...back end support...from his teammates. Reed is now up to three rushing touchdowns in 2023.

For their finale of the evening, WKU may have saved their most athletic score for last. Junior running back Elijah Young hurdled a defender in the process of reaching the end zone from 14 yards out.Β 

The 3-2 Hilltoppers continue their season on October 6 in Ruston against Louisiana Tech on ESPNU.

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Joe Londergan
JOE LONDERGAN

Joe covers college sports from the Group of Five ranks and beyond. He has worked in the sports industry since 2008, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville, and a Master's degree from Seattle University.

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