(BOWLING GREEN, Ky.) – When the game turned into a grind, the Hilltoppers landed the knockout punch, topping Nevada 31-16.

The 15-point victory marks WKU’s ninth win of its last 10 matchups inside L.T. Smith Stadium. 

La’Vell Wright’s thundering 47-yard, two-touchdown performance propelled WKU in its third win this season.

“Let’s put in the big horse,” Head Coach Tyson Helton said. “I’ve got to get him a big horse plaque or something.”

“I run angry,” La’Vell Wright said. “I run with a chip on my shoulder.”

Graduate senior Maverick McIvor threw for 216 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception.

In the first quarter, Nevada averaged 5.3 yards per carry. McIvor piloted WKU with 66 passing yards. The biggest completion was 17 yards to Noah Meyers. The redshirt sophomore charted 37 receiving yards in the first frame. 

McIvor’s interception signaled a second quarter filled with errant plays by WKU. Purdy punctuated the Wolfpack’s three-play, 46-yard drive with a six-yard rush into the endzone. Da’Von Brown and Davis Merritt’s defense revived the 17,247 in attendance with an interception. Redshirt-junior Jaylen Lewis picked off Purdy’s pass in the back of the endzone, halting Nevada’s drive. 

“I felt like the wind was blowing my way,” Jaylen Lewis said. “You should have felt that.”

The red and white trailed 10-3 at the end of the half. Nevada posted 129 rushing yards, controlling the ball for 17:44. 

WKU opened the second half with a balanced drive. Helton dialed up a nine-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by a La’Vell Wright touchdown run to tie the game at 10.

That knot unraveled after a 43-yard field goal from Joe McFadden. 

In response, a nine-play 85-yard drive pushed the Hilltoppers to lead for the first time, 17-13. George Hart III took the direct snap eight yards straight into the “Burm Endzone,” igniting WKU’s offense. 

La’Vell Wright delivered the knock-out shot, capping off a dominant 87-yard drive, with a gritty 8-yard rush into the promised land. 

After a 23-yard McFadden field goal, Nevada’s onside kick attempt was returned by redshirt senior WR Matthew Henry for a 50-yard touchdown. 

The Tops will play at Missouri State on Saturday, September 27th at 6 p.m. CT.