WKU pulled out a dramatic 31-28 win over Louisiana-Monroe Saturday, but two Toppers weren’t there to celebrate with the team.

Junior wide receiver Dexter Haynes and sophomore wide receiver Courtney Dalcourt were both suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules, the university confirmed to the Herald.

Neither Haynes nor Dalcourt made the trip to Monroe.

Haynes was also suspended from the team during spring practice, and was arrested on Feb. 6 for driving under the influence.

There was no word as to what specific team rules the two receivers violated.

Haynes is No. 6 on the team this season in receiving yards, accumulating 102 yards on six catches with one touchdown.

Dalcourt, a 5-foot-11, 222-pound former quarterback, doesn’t have a catch this season.

Clendenin clubs his way to another solid performance

Senior defensive end Jared Clendenin has been hard to miss on the field the last two games.

WKU’s defensive captain has worn a club-like cast on his left arm the past two weeks to protect an injury sustained Oct. 6 during the Middle Tennessee State game.

Clendenin recently declined comment to the Herald as to the specific nature of the injury.

But the Stone Mountain, Ga., native fought through the pain Saturday to put in a strong performance against the Warhawks, notching 1.5 sacks, three tackles and two blocked field goals.

“Tackling is not that bad, but it’s getting off blocks and things like that that become more difficult,” Clendenin said of playing with the cast. “But it is good as far as getting a block. I can use it to my advantage and stick it up there.”

Rainey moves up in the record books

Senior running back Bobby Rainey is edging closer to the school’s career rushing record.

Rainey rushed for 104 yards on 30 attempts Saturday, bringing his career total to 3,861 yards.

That allowed him to vault into the No. 3 spot in school history, passing former Topper Antwan Floyd’s mark of 3,775 career yards.

Rainey put up another 100-yard day despite being held to -11 rushing yards in the first quarter.

“We started off real sluggish but it wasn’t them. It was us,” Rainey said. “We can run the ball on anybody, and the only thing that can keep us from running is ourselves.”

Rainey has now scored at least one touchdown in each of WKU’s five Sun Belt Conference games.

His 104 yards also allowed him to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season.

Other notes

• Senior cornerback Derrius Brooks’ overtime interception was his fourth of the season, the highest total this year in the Sun Belt.

• WKU has now won three straight overtime games under Head Coach Willie Taggart, including two this season.

• The Toppers have won four straight games for the first time since the 2005 season.

• Taggart’s overall record as WKU coach is 6-14, while junior quarterback Kawaun Jakes’ career record as the Toppers’ starter is now 6-22.