Tops of the Sun Belt Moment #25 – WKU’s First SBC Football Victory

In the year 2009, Western Kentucky University ended their transition period and officially started play in the Sun Belt Conference. That being said, the WKU Hilltoppers and their faithful would have to wait until the 2010 season to see their first ever Sun Belt gridiron victory come to fruition.

It was an early fall afternoon in Lafayette, Louisiana when Willie T. and company would take on the ULL Rajun Cajuns, as the Toppers were coming off of their 18th straight loss in only their fourth season of play in division one football. But, in front of 15,641 Pelican State fans, the Hilltoppers would hand ULL a loss by a score of 54-21. For WKU, who had struggled for many years, this was a sign of something good. This showed light at the end of the tunnel for all who were worried WKU couldn’t make it in division one football.

WKU would rely on some poor offensive play and some pretty sound defense to secure the victory. To start the game, the Hilltoppers would kick a field goal to jump out to a 3-0 lead. After that, they would get a 69 yard fumble return to extend the lead to 10-0 moving into the second half. ULL would return with a 52 yard touchdown pass to pull within three, but WKU would answer, adding three scoring drives for a total of 17 points to end the first half and take a 20 point lead into the locker room. Following the intermission, Lafayette would come out and score a touchdown to try and regain some momentum at the 10:25 mark of the 3rd quarter. However, four WKU touchdowns to end the third and start the fourth would put the game out of reach and secure the Hilltoppers first victory in Sun Belt play in a season and a half.

For Western Kentucky it was a truly memorable day. They beat a Sun Belt power house while also winning their first SBC game ever. Hopefully in Conference USA, it wont take nearly as long.