Tops fall to MTSU despite record-breaking performance

Junior wide receiver Jared Dangerfield attempts a catch during the WKU vs MTSU game on Sept. 13, 2014. Alyssa Pointer/HERALD

Elliott Pratt

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Breaking school records again wasn’t enough. 718 yards of offense wasn’t enough, and 47 points still wasn’t enough to win.

WKU fell to Middle Tennessee in a game for the ages, 50-47, in triple overtime at Floyd Stadium. Redshirt senior quarterback Brandon Doughty, who set a FBS school record for passing yards in a game just two weeks ago, set the record again with 593 yards through the air on 43-of-66 passing and four touchdowns.

Doughty’s performance against the Blue Raiders also set a new Conference USA record for passing yards in a game, breaking Chris Redman’s record of 592 passing yards against East Carolina on Nov. 14, 1998.

His 66 passing attempts exceeded his previous record of 56 attempts against Bowling Green State, and his 43 completions were the second-most in school history.

The WKU offense’s 718 total yards also reset the record for yards per game that the team set in Week 1 and the team’s 102 offensive plays outlasted the 97 the team ran against Bowling Green State.

“With record breaking stuff like that, it’s something you want to celebrate,” wide receiver Willie McNeal said. “But with a loss you can’t really celebrate that. You have to go to film and learn from your mistakes and get ready for the next opponent.”