PREVIEW: WKU at Navy
September 23, 2014
Western Kentucky (1-2) at Navy (2-2), 2:30 p.m. CT, (CBS Sports Network)
ODDS: Navy -6.5 (Vegas Insider)
SERIES: NAVY 2-1
LAST GAME: WKU 19, Navy 7
WHAT’S AT STAKE: WKU will seek to put its record back to .500. A loss would put WKU at its worst record since 2011 when the Hilltoppers began the season 0-4. WKU and Navy close out the final game of a four-game home-and-home series that began in 2009.
KEY MATCHUP: Navy’s rushing offense vs. WKU’s run defense: The Hilltoppers enter Annapolis to face the nation’s second ranked rushing attack at 345 yards per game. WKU is coming off a bye week where they gave up 323 yards on the ground at Middle Tennessee on Sept. 13. Six Midshipmen have over 100 yards rushing with quarterback Keenan Reynolds leading with 311 yards and five touchdowns.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
WKU – RB Leon Allen: The Hilltopper run game has progressed through each game this season. Allen posted 99 yards against Bowling Green, 118 yards at Illinois, and 128 rushing yards at MTSU with a touchdown in each game. Navy’s defense has allowed 211.5 yards per game.
Navy – QB Keenan Reynolds: The junior quarterback was knocked out of the second quarter of WKU’s 19-7 win against Navy last season. Reynolds scored 31 touchdowns in 2013, the most by any quarterback in one season in NCAA history. The junior currently leads the Midshipmens’ triple-option attack with five touchdowns and has 240 yards rushing on 63 attempts.
FACTS & FIGURES:
WKU has won two straight against the service academies, defeating Navy and Army last season…both teams are one of the country’s best in third down conversions…WKU ranks third nationally (.600), Navy ranks 15th (.521)….The last time WKU traveled to Annapolis was the for the first meeting between the schools. Navy won that inaugural matchup 38-22 in 2009.