WKU Football outpaced Middle Tennessee 42-26 in a 643-yard offensive explosion at Houchens-Smith Stadium on senior night Saturday evening.
Defense was optional in this edition of the 100 Miles of Hate rivalry, with both teams combining for 1,183 yards on the night.
Freshman quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. put together a masterpiece, throwing for 371 yards and three touchdowns, along with one rushing touchdown. The only mistake was an interception at the Blue Raiders’ 10-yard line late in the fourth quarter.
Senior wide receiver Matthew Henry dominated with 7 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, his second 100-yard performance of the season.
The three-headed monster at running back made an impact on the game, led by freshman running back Marvis Parrish, who had his best game as a Hilltopper, carrying the ball 12 times for 102 yards rushing, and ripping off a 66-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Senior running back La’vell Wright continued the dominant rushing attack, with 11 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Senior running back George Hart III rushed for 46 yards on five carries.
“I love our three running backs; they made explosive runs,” Head Coach Tyson Helton said. “They move the chains, they’re the three-headed monster.”
The Hilltopper offense scored over 40 points for the third time this season by setting the tone early with an opening-drive touchdown on their first possession—the first opening drive touchdown since the New Mexico State game last season.
“It was great to go out there and score 40-something, and put up 600-something yards,” Helton said. “We’re getting better, we haven’t hit the mountain top yet, but we’re getting better.”
“That’s what we expect every week,” Tisdale Jr. said. “We have the talent and the guys to go out there and make plays.”
The Hilltopper red zone offense struggled in the fourth quarter, scoring just seven points in three red zone trips. A Tisdale Jr. interception in the red zone, combined with a missed 24-yard field goal from kicker John Cannon, brought the Blue Raiders back in the game.
The Hilltopper defense had an evening to forget, giving up 541 yards and 389 yards through the air, the most of the season. The defense was gashed with several big plays, including a 64-yard run by Blue Raiders backup quarterback Roman Gagliano in the second quarter.
The defense stepped up in the fourth quarter, spearheaded by the Hilltoppers’ red zone stop when holding onto a 28-23 lead. The defense held the Blue Raiders to 0-3 on fourth down on the night.
The rivalry win brought the Hilltoppers to 8-2, 6-1 CUSA, on the season, and kept the team alive in the Conference USA championship race.
Next up for the Hilltoppers is a trip to Baton Rouge for a cage match with the LSU Tigers at 6:45 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on the SEC Network.
