Another Fourth Quarter Collapse

Paducah, KY native Corey Robinson carved up the Hilltopper defense going 26 of 39 for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns. Robinson completed a 47 yard bomb to wide out Chip Reeves with 12:39 left in the game that broke a 14-14 tie. The final score was Troy 28, WKU 14.

Trying to figure out why the David Elson coaching regime did not heavily recruit this kid? He only set the national record with 91 touchdown passes his senior season at Lone Oak and he lives in your state.

Bobby Rainey once again put in a stellar performance with 27 rushes for 157 yards, accounting for both Hilltopper touchdowns.

On the flip side, Kawaun Jakes continues to be consistently inconsistent going 10 of 23 for only 81 yards. Really, just 81 yards! The quarterback situation needs to be assessed during the off season. WKU cannot depend on Bobby Rainey to be 85% of the offense every game.

The defense had another hard time putting together a complete game effort, playing well for three quarters but collapsing in the fourth.

The season ends with a record of 2-10, better than 0-12!

Hilltoppers Finds Another Way To Lose

I will admit that I have exiled myself from blogging about Hilltopper football after watching the North Texas debacle. A performance like that causes a fan to be uninspired to talk about a team that shows no effort against a team that is beatable, its North Texas not Nebraska!

However, after showing an inspired effort and guts in their one point overtime victory over Arkansas State, I made my way to L.T. Smith Stadium for the home finale against Middle Tennessee. For the first three quarter I was impressed with the play of WKU, they put together a complete game as Bobby Rainey ran wild and the defense played lights out. Even special teams were playing decent, blocking a couple of punts to set up scores. That made up for Middle's Eric Russell 97 yard kickoff return touchdown and that Casey Tinius extra point that was blocked.

The positive outlook changed on one play in the 4th quarter with the Hilltoppers leading 26-13, 4th down and one yard away from the end zone. Coach Taggart decides to put this game away and go for the touchdown, I liked the call until I saw Kawaun Jakes fumble the snap and the Blue Raiders' Rod Isaac scoop and score for a 99 yard touchdown. The Hilltopper lead is cut to 26-20. All of a sudden, I had flashbacks to the Louisiana-Monroe game. Sound familiar:

- The offense stalls on their next possession

- MTSU puts together a 10 play, 77 yard drive capped off with a Ben Cunningham 6 yard touchdown run. 27-26 MTSU with the lead.

- The offense puts together a drive and sets up Casey Tinius for a 34 yard field goal with 2:26 remaining, only to have Blue Raiders defensive lineman Jarrett Crittenton block the attempt. Game over.

Notes: The Good, The Bad, The Horrible

- Bobby Rainey had a monster game with 45 rushes for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns.

- Kawaun Jakes was once again inconsistent, going 9-22 for only 98 yards and the goal line fumble.

- The defense held MTSU to 208 total yards and allowed only one touchdown.

- Special teams were good and terrible. Back to back blocked punts helped set up early touchdowns for the Hilltoppers. However, a kickoff return for a touchdown and causing the Blue Raiders to block an extra point and field goal attempt cost WKU big time.

- I have a feeling that special teams will be emphasized in practice this week.

FINALLY! Hilltoppers 54, Ragin' Cajuns 21

- After an epic fourth quarter failure in last week's home loss to Louisiana Monroe, the Hilltoppers respond by bulldozing the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns by a score of 54-21.

- A 1-yard touchdown run by Louisiana Lafayette quarterback Brad McGuire cut the WKU lead to 27-14. The Hilltoppers responded with a 6 play, 70 yard drive that concluded with a Kawaun Jakes 1 yard touchdown run. That was the beginning of 27 unanswered points to put the game out of reach for the Ragin' Cajuns.

- Kawaun Jakes led the way with a career day going 18 for 22 passing for 262 yards and one touchdown through the air. He also added 28 yards on 4 rushes and two touchdowns on the ground.

- The defense recorded two touchdowns, a 70 yard fumble return by Jamarcus Allen and a 62 yard interception return by Derrius Brooks. They even recorded two sacks and held Louisiana Lafayette quarterback Chris Masson to pedestrian numbers, 16 for 33 for 223 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

- Freshman running back Antonio Andrews had a breakout game with 52 yards on the ground for two touchdowns. Andrews seems to be asserting himself as another backfield weapon the offense can rely on as opposing defenses key in on stopping Bobby Rainey.

- The Hilltoppers put together their best game all year by protecting the ball, being efficient on offense, creating turnovers on defense, and scoring off those turnovers. The game plan was so well executed that punter Hendrix Brakefield took the evening off!

Hilltoppers Epic Collapse In The Fourth

As the old saying goes, "winners know how to win." In the case of the Hilltoppers, losers know how to lose, especially when they have a lead. The losing streak now stands at 26 in a row after allowing Louisiana Monroe to score 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to lose 35-30.

RECAP

- The first quarter saw the Hilltoppers come out swinging with an Antonio Andrews reverse pass that connected with Marcus Vasquez for 37 yards. That led to a 25 yard field goal by Casey Tinius for 3-0 WKU lead.

- The defense was playing solid in first half and the Tops were winning the field position battle. With 14:56 to go in the second quarter, Kawaun Jakes hooked up with Marcus Vasquez for a 13 yard touchdown reception to extend the lead to 10-0.

- A botched punt by Louisiana Monroe lead to an incomplete pass on fourth down as the punter tried to save face. WKU took over on the Warhawks 25 yard line which lead to a Bobby Rainey 4 yard touchdown run. The Hilltoppers take a 17-0 lead with 6:35 remaining in the second.

- The Warhawks finally put together a solid drive that ended with a Jyruss Edwards 33 yard touchdown run on a fourth and one conversion. It is a 17-7 Hilltopper lead going into halftime.

- Late in the third quarter Louisiana Monroe gets desperate and attempts a fake punt pass on fourth down that falls incomplete. Once again, the Hilltoppers have great field position taking over on the Warhawks 31 yard line. Throw in an unsportsmanlike penalty and a pass interference penalty on Louisiana Monroe and the Tops are setting pretty on the 2 yard line. Bobby Rainey scores from 2 yards out and with 1:21 to go in the third WKU leads 24-7.

THE 4TH QUARTER MELTDOWN

- Unfortunately for the WKU defense they forgot that there are four quarters in football because their defense got soft and allowed Louisiana Monroe quarterback Kolton Browning to channel his inner Joe Montana. When Browning wasn't hitting receivers in the middle of the field, he was taking off and picking up first downs with his legs.

- Kolton Browning connects with Luther Ambrose on a 22 yard touchdown reception with 14:20 left in the fourth quarter. WKU 24, ULM 14.

- After a stalled drive by the Hilltoppers, the Warhawks convert two fourth down plays that lead to a Frank Gooden 2 yard touchdown run. WKU 24, ULM 21.

- Three and out by the WKU offense and ULM takes the ball and drives right down the field and score on a Jyruss Edwards six yard touchdown run. ULM 28, WKU 24 with 3:35 left in the fourth quarter.

- The Hilltopper offense responded with no sense of urgency as they huddled after every play on the drive allowing precious seconds to tick away. In the end the clock did not matter as Kawaun Jakes dropped back and threw a pick to ULM's Robert Nelson who took it to the house for a 65 yard touchdown return.

- As Nelson crossed the goal line the boo birds rained down on L.T. Smith Stadium as fans were frustrated with the offensive effort. ULM 35, WKU 24.

- WKU finally puts together a drive as Jakes hooked up with Willie McNeal for a 13 yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion fails and it’s a 35-30 Louisiana Monroe lead.

- The Warhawks recover the onside kick and this epic collapse is over!

NOTES

- I have feeling that the coaching staff will practice on hurry up offensive drills throughout the next week. With 3:35 left in the game and needing a touchdown to win, the offense huddled up after every play that allowed 15-20 seconds to tick off the clock.

- Will we see Matt Pelesasa under center next weekend? Kawaun Jakes finished 13-21 for 131 yards with two touchdowns. That crucial interception late in the game will not help boost the coaching staff's confidence in his play during pressure situations.

- Bobby Rainey continues to be the bright spot for this offense, rushing for 174 yards on 32 carries and scoring two touchdowns.

- The defensive unit put in a great effort, for three quarters. It seems like they installed the prevent defense for the entire fourth quarter and allowed a red shirt freshman quarterback to pick them apart.

- The security staff lined up by the stands late in the third quarter anticipating the Hilltopper fans storming the field after breaking the streak. If you are looking for excuses as to why we lost you could point to the security staff for early crowd control alignment, they obviously failed to scout this game and realize who was playing.