Leon Allen breaks C-USA rushing record, Hilltoppers back to .500

It was a great day all around for the Hilltoppers, as they got back to an even keel in the record column, running the Black Knights from West Point out of Bowling Green, behind a record setting day for Leon Allen.

Things didn’t start too hot for the Toppers, though, as they went three and out on their first drive of the game, and it would be Army who struck first, after converting on a pair of third and longs and Angel Santiago would cap it off with a one yard rush. A 12 play, 64 yard drive certainly wasn’t how anyone envisioned the game starting.

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But, WKU would re-find their footing and would strike twice to close the second half, once on a 12 yard Allen run and again on a 15 yard

rush. Yes, you read that right – a 15 yard Brandon Doughty

rush

. The Knights would connect on a field goal from 43 yards out, and the Tops would match it with three points of their own, and it’d be nearly nine minutes of scoreless football until this play.

Yeah. That’s how the half ended for WKU, and they went into the locker room with a 24-10 lead.

The second half, offensively, would start an unprecedented performance for Allen, as he took the first play for WKU of the half 80 yards for a touchdown, and ran for over 250 yards in the third and fourth quarters to set a new Conference USA record with 345 rushing yards on 33 carries (that’s 10.5 yards per touch) and three touchdowns. Yes, you can expect to see him win C-USA  Player of the Week.

The Tops would score three more times in the second half and would roll to a 52-24, putting them in position to become bowl eligible with a win next week against UTSA.

Nick Holt’s defense started on just terrible footing, but they made up for it when it counted most, although Army still rushed for 293 total yards, lead by 131 yards from Larry Dixon. Doughty totaled 178 yards and three touchdowns through the air, none more impressive than the tipped pass caught by Willie McNeal to end the first half. Jared Dangerfield once again was Doughty’s favorite target, recording 73 yards through seven catches and a score.

Overshadowed by Allen’s record breaking performance was that WKU’s defense pitched a fourth-quarter shutout for the third consecutive home game. The Toppers also move to 4-1 at home on the year.

Things seem to be hitting their stride for WKU, and just at the right time in the season.