(Bowling Green, KY) — Western Kentucky started the game off slow against North Alabama as the Lions would get an early 3 & Out with 14:03 left in the first. Braxton Meyers recovered the muffed punt from Justin Pegues in WKU territory. The Hilltoppers capitalized with Maverick McIvor connecting with Noah Myers to inch closer to the goal line. Then, George Hart lll punched it in giving WKU the early lead 7-0 in the first with 11:58 left to go. WKU kept the momentum by forcing North Alabama into a third down and long situation. North Alabama continued the drive with that momentum to the Hilltoppers 38 yard line backed by a facemask penalty. The Lions Jayvian Allen took it all the way down to Hilltoppers five yard line. In response, the Hilltoppers defense stopped them and forced a field goal from 25 yards out from Ian Vachon making the score 7-3 with 5:58 in the 1st Quarter. The Lions defense kept the training roll coming out strong on the next drive and getting a second straight 3 & Out. KJ Fields picked up a first for the Lions on the first play of the drive and the Lions received help from a pass interference call on WKU. The momentum would continue as Justin Pegues caught a 34 yard catch to get in the red zone for North Alabama. The momentum would slow down as an offensive pass interference would be called to push the Lions to a 3rd & 19 as the Hilltoppers defense stop them again in the red zone. As Ian Vachon would make a 47 yard field goal making the score 7-6 with 2:15 left in the 1st Quarter. In response, the Hilltoppers would come out the gate running as Jarius Mack breaks one lose all the way down to the Lions 40. The passing attack would continue as Kelby Williams caught a 20 yard pass. The drive would end with a passing touchdown from Maverick McIvor connecting with Quincy Burroughs pushing the lead to 14-6 with 15 seconds left in the 1st Quarter. The Lions would start the 2nd quarter running efficiently with Quarterback Ari Patu. But the drive would get stunted by a holding call slowing them down. WKU would get a sack by Harper Holloman to end the drive for the Lions with 11:15 left in the 2nd Quarter. WKU would move fast down the field as Matthew Henry would caught a diving side line catch. The Hilltoppers would continue moving down the field with a balanced attack getting into the end zone as Maverick McIvor connects with Jarius Mack pushing the lead to 21-6 with 8:14 in left in 2nd Quarter. The offense would continue firing as Maverick McIvor would connect with K.D. Hutchinson for a 78 yard touchdown on the first play off the drive making the lead 28-6. Hutchinson would score again on a 12 yard jet sweep making the score 35-6. WKU wouldn’t be stopped as Maverick McIvor would connect with Matthew Henry for a 14 yard touchdown pass right before the half pushing the lead to 42-6. Maverick McIvor finishes the first half 20/25 with 275 passing yards and 5 passing touchdowns. North Alabama would come out strong in the 2nd Half getting the ball all the way down to WKU’s 40. However the Hilltoppers defense gets another stop forcing a 3 and Out. The Hilltoppers didn’t do much on offense and punted it back to the Lions offense. The Hilltoppers would shut down North Alabama’s offense forcing another punt. WKU’s offense continues a dominant balance attack by moving the ball down the field. The drive ends in a field goal from 46 yards out by John Cannon making the lead 45-6. North Alabama drive looks promising on with quarterback Destin Wade driving down the field with his legs to WKU’s 38 yard line. However, the Hilltoppers forced a turnover on downs to set up the offense. Redshirt Freshman Rodney Tisdale Jr. completes a 15 plus yarder for the first down for the Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers were looking promising after having the ball on the 8 yard line. Rodney Tisdale Jr. throws his first career passing touchdown to Marvin Sims from 8 yards out pushing the lead to 52-6. John Cannon makes a 43 yard field goal making the score 55-6 with 6:30 left in the game. WKU wins 55-6 Maverick McIvor finishes with 305 passing yards and 5 touchdowns.

QUOTABLES:

“Good team win tonight,” WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton said after a 55-6 win vs. North Alabama. “Toledo will be a great challenge for us,” Coach Helton said after being asked about Toledo who just lost at Kentucky 24-16. WKU will play the Rockets again this year on the road after beating them at home last year 26-21.

“Our best players showed up for us when we needed. My father is a legendary O-Line coach so I’m very critically of the O-line play. O-line and D-line lead the way. Good to see Rodney out there tonight. Maverick had a great night. The beauty of coaches is making adjustments. We trust our running backs and what they all bring to the table. I’m very pleased with the RB room. All of our kicking specialists are doing a really good job. We are excited to play and we have to play our best game.”

#7 Maverick McIvor

“I thought we played a really good half. Good to see Rodney get out there. Had a chip on my shoulder after they beat us (ACU) last year. We are finding our identity on run game. My running backs are playing really good. We are clicking really well but there’s always room for improvement. My best throw tonight was to K.D. which wasn’t my best throw.”

#2 K.D. Hutchinson 

“It’s all God. I can’t do anything without God. Maverick just trusted me.

Anytime you can start 2-0 is good. Toledo is a great team, they competed with Kentucky which says a lot. We have a group of WR who love each other and love competing.” 

#9 Dominic Oliver

“We were prepared for the 2 QB’s. Just leaned on our keys. Looking forward to every game because it’s the next game.

We played better on the run but 153 yards is still not good. We don’t beat teams we beat ourselves.”

#44 Harper Holloman

“This week we focused on reading our keys. We still have more things to clean up. Always things to improve on. We do have to fix penalties. We just gotta do better on the missed tackles.”