Gameday: WKU vs. ULL – 10/15/13

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning Hilltopper nation, and welcome to GAMEDAY! It has been way too long since the Tops have taken the field in actual competition, but when they did, things were finally clicking. The Hilltoppers come into today’s gridiron grudge match with the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (who, if you remember, WKU beat in 2011 to end a streak of 18 straight losses at L.T. Smith Stadium), and things have been going well for WKU ever since.
WKU comes into today’s game against ULL on a 3 game winning streak – a 58-17 smack down of the Morgan St. Bears, an impressive 19-7 win over the nations top rushing attack in Navy, and the Thursday night revenge over the Warhawks, 31-10 last time out.
During this 3-game winning streak, WKU QB Brandon Doughty has been the anchor of the offense, something we haven’t seen in quite sometime (with any recent QB). Doughty is completing roughly 76% of his passes (56/74) and has thrown for over 620 yards, and to cap it all off, 2 TD’s. (Which, yes, doesn’t seem that impressive, but when you have methodical drives in a Bobby Petrino offense and Antonio Andrews & Leon Allen in your backfield, there’s no need for a short passing game.) Antonio Andrews has been trusted with the ball 76 times over this 3 game span, and has taken it 550 yards, and into the endzone 8 times and, amazingly, ZERO fumbles. Not only a threat on the ground, A.A. also has 7 catches for 58 yards.
Speaking of receiving, the Tops have seen the wide receiver position become a true threat on the field (as opposed to the tight end position being the air target of choice. Mr. Jack Doyle can be the one to thank for that), and over the past few games, the biggest target has varied. Nicholas Norris emerged in Mobile during the South Alabama game, but hasn’t been a huge factor since, but has racked up 6 catches for 106 yards. Willie McNeal has continued to be a popular target, and he has also collected 6 catches for 140 yards, and he has found the endzone (last Thursday for the game’s first score, actually). Over the past 2 games, Joel German has reemerged, and in a big way, after missing all of last season due to an injury. German has been the go-to guy, collecting 12 balls for 142 yards.
The Ragin Cajuns also come into the contest riding a 3 game winning streak – a 70-7 slaughter of the Nichols St. Colonels (which, oddly enough, is very similar to WKU’s game vs. the Bears to get the season back on track. Or, in a then-winless ULL’s case, on any track at all), a 5 point win over the Zips of Akron, and welcomed Texas St. to Sun Belt football by winning 45-24. During their 3 game winning streak, QB Terrance Broadway has put up very similar numbers when compared to Doughty (through the air at least…more on that momentarily), except he has been a little more efficient. He has a lower completion percentage (73% – 53/73), but he has made up for it in efficiency, covering 789 yards and thrown for 8 touchdowns. With the injury of ULM’s Kolton Browning, Broadway has become the class of the Sun Belt in terms of quarterbacks. Not only can he let it rip through the air, but he his the best double-threat QB in the conference as well, and has rushed for 113 yards on 25 carries during the Cajuns win streak, finding the endzone on the ground 3 times.
The Cajuns implore a two-back system, ULL leading rusher on the season Alonzo Harris (32 carries for 199 yards and 2 TD’s over the last 3 games) and Elijah McGuire (22 carries for 215 yards and 4 TD’s in the same time span. Leading receiver Jamal Robinson was a huge factor last week vs. the Bobcats, and has 263 yards on 13 catches and 5 TD’s in the last 3 games.
While WKU is known for their rushing attack (and have been for years, with Bobby Rainey first, and of course now) this season has seen the emergence of a more balanced offense. The Hilltoppers come into the game ranked 46th in passing yards (259 per game) and 26th in rushing (214 per game) in the nation, while the Cajuns are 62nd (242 per game) and 23rd (217 per game), respectively. The two squads match up well in just about every offensive aspect of the game, and should be an incredibly evenly matched contest.
While we haven’t talked much about the defense right now, we will later today. But, a player to be aware of for WKU is Xavius Boyd, who is 2nd in the nation in sacks, has had 5 double-digit tackle games, and a 3 time winner of the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week award. I know that’s just a quick synopsis, but again, we will get more in depth with defense later today.
Here is your first look at tonight’s match. Check back to WTRT later today for a position vs. position comparison, and within that, a prediction.
Until then, stand up and cheers.