WKU Football started Conference USA play with promise.
After a 3-2 start and finishing non-conference play with a very close loss at Boston College, the Hilltoppers got off the C-USA starting block blazing. WKU won their first five conference games, outscoring opponents 196-94 in those contests.
Looking around at the other lanes only made the Hilltoppers look better coming down the homestretch. The heavy favorite, Liberty, looked slower than usual. The fierce underdog, Sam Houston, had their shocking start stalled by a 31-14 loss to the Hilltoppers.
Heading into the tail end of the race, it seemed WKU and Jacksonville State were on their way to a photo finish for the C-USA gold medal.
But as the final lap bell rang, the sprinting Hilltoppers started to stumble.
It began with the Hilltoppers’ first game of November, a 41-28 win at New Mexico State. While the Hilltoppers left the game with the win, signs of weakness were shown. WKU allowed 331 rushing yards to the Aggies and redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw two interceptions. But even with the miscues, the Hilltoppers improved to 7-2 and still had a C-USA championship game in sight.
When WKU took their first C-USA loss to Lousiana Tech the following week, the pieces really began to fall off. The Hilltoppers’ defense tightened up, allowing only one touchdown, but WKU’s offense only scored once and fell to the Bulldogs 12-7.
Nonetheless, WKU still controlled the outcome of the season. Winning their last two games would clinch the Hilltoppers’ spot in the C-USA championship game and make Houchens-Smith Stadium the host.
They were stumbling, sure, but WKU had a clear opportunity to right the ship.
However, after the Hilltoppers’ Saturday loss to Liberty, WKU isn’t stumbling anymore. They’re lying injured on the track, watching those who struggled early catch their stride and pass them up. The race was in their hands, and within two weeks, the Hilltoppers’ ability to control their destiny was demoted to a sliver of hope.
“What you do in November they remember.”
Head Coach Tyson Helton has uttered this sentiment plenty of times. Helton has used it as an answer in press conferences multiple times this year. A video on WKU Football’s Instagram has Coach Helton saying it to an excited group of Hilltoppers after their win at NMSU.
Plagued with the memory of miserable run defense and offensive miscues, the only thing I remember of this month is a quick fall from the top.
In their last three games, the Hilltoppers defense has allowed an inexcusable 959 rushing yards. The offense has turned the ball over seven times, including five interceptions from Veltkamp.
All hope is not lost. If Liberty falls to Sam Houston and WKU takes down Jacksonville State next week, the Hilltoppers will head to Jax State for the C-USA title game.
However, even if the scenario plays out in the Hilltoppers’ favor, it’ll be hard for me to look past how this team has crumbled.
I came into November with high hopes. Now, Helton’s words ring truer than ever – I definitely will remember what WKU did in November.
Sports Editor Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected]
