WKU decided to mix it up at quarterback Saturday night, but with the chips on the table, the Toppers went with the guy the offense is most comfortable with.

Sophomore Nelson Fishback, a junior college transfer, started at quarterback for WKU against Troy. He was the third person to start a game at quarterback for the Toppers through eight games this season.

Fishback was in for WKU for the first two series’ before being pulled for junior Brandon Doughty, who has started in six games this year, in the third offensive series. Fishback finished the game 2-of-3 for 12 yards.

Doughty had a pair of fumbles that led to two Troy touchdowns, but he was also solid through the air. The junior threw for 387 yards and no interceptions against the Trojans.

After the game, coach Bobby Petrino said he decided to go with Doughty under center when he saw the Trojans increase their pass-rush.

“I thought Nelson came out and moved us around a bit and got us a field goal but made some mistakes,” he said. “The way they were playing, they were going to load the box — we were going to need to throw the ball down the field a little bit, and we felt like Brandon gave us the best opportunity to do that.”

Petrino said he was pleased with Doughty’s play but disappointed WKU couldn’t capitalize with touchdowns — the Toppers connected on 4-of-5 field goals against the Trojans.

“You have all kinds of yards and you move the ball, but you have to score touchdowns when you get down in the red zone,” he said. “Right now we’re not physical enough knock people off the ball and run it in, and we’re not able to make the plays in the passing game in the red zone.”