ATLANTA, Ga. — The Toppers have a 24-7 lead over Georgia State with two quarters remaining.

WKU started the game with short field at the Georgia State 40 yard line. Junior quarterback Brandon Doughty led a 12 play scoring drive as senior running back Keshawn Simpson touched the ball three times and scored on a 2-yard run to put WKU up early 7-0.

After stopping the Panthers on a three-and-out, WKU went to work from its own 20 yard line. Doughty escaped a sack and completed a 36-yard pass to freshman wide receiver Nicholas Norris over the middle. The Toppers would eventually settle for a 40-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Garrett Schwettman.

Georgia State responded when Robert Davis beat senior cornerback Tyree Robinson down the sideline and juggled in a 67-yard touchdown pass, the second-longest scoring play WKU has given up this season. 

WKU wouldn’t find the end zone again until late in the second quarter when Doughty connected with freshman wide receiver Taywan Taylor for 41 yards to the Georgia State 2-yard line. Two plays later, Simpson bounced off a few Panthers defenders for the one-yard score. It is the first multi-touchdown game for Simpson since the season opener against Kentucky.

WKU got the ball right back with under two minutes and Doughty and the offense went right back to work. Doughty sold the play action and found junior wide receiver Willie McNeal on a 44-yard pass to the GSU 31-yard line. The play action worked once again as Doughty found a wide open senior fullback Kadeem Jones for a 16-yard touchdown – the fullback’s first score of the year.

Doughty is 14-for-21, 200 yards and one touchdown through one half. Simpson leads scorers with two touchdowns on seven carries for 17 yards. 

Senior running back Antonio Andrews has nine carries for 42 yards and two catches for 20 yards. McNeal currently leads receivers with four catches for 62 yards. 

Georgia State will get the ball to begin the second half.