Hilltoppers vs. Chippewas Position Battle: Quarterback
Brandon Doughty and Cooper Rush are two names that you’ll undoubtedly hear more than once tomorrow when the Hilltoppers take on the Chippewas. With under a day left until the Tops and Chips take the field in the Bahamas, lets take a look at this past season and do a little compare and contrast between the two mid major quarterbacks.
Lets kick this shindig off with WKU signal caller Brandon Doughty. Doughty, who was recently granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, will lead the Tops potent passing attack into his first bowl game in which he’s starting having thrown for 4,344 yards. Doughty has broken personal and WKU records this past season, most notably holding the Hilltoppers’ all time passing touchdown record with 58 in his career. Last season he threw 14 touchdowns, however he threw 14 interceptions along with them, but here in 2014, he’s performed to near perfection this season. Doughty found his stride in first year coach Jeff Brohm’s offense completing 67% of his passes for 362 yards on average. Doughty shined brightest in the Hilltoppers four game win streak to end the season. In those four games, he threw 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Like I said – near perfection. Doughty has been phenomenal all season and I don’t see that letting up on the biggest stage of his career.
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The QB who, statistic wise, is playing second fiddle in this match up is Central Michigan gun slinger Cooper Rush. Rush entered the season as the second QB on the depth chart but beat out senior QB
. Rush on the season has a 64% completion percentage on 337 attempts. With the Chippewas throwing a considerably fewer times than the Hilltoppers, Rush still has over 2000 yards through the air with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Rush’s best day in the air was against Miami of Ohio, when he threw for three touchdowns, 218 yards and only one turnover. Cooper Rush didn’t break any records like his counter part, however he was consistent enough for the Chippewas to defeat the MAC champion NIU Huskies and secure a bowl birth in the Bahamas.
After reviewing the two signal callers it is somewhat hard to compare the two because the teams run such different offenses, the QB’s don’t have comparable stats. That being said though, I would have to give the edge to Brandon Doughty. Doughty has been among the nation’s most efficient and prolific passer and has done so game in and game out. The best day for Rush is a typical one for Doughty. Doughty and the Tops offense is one of the best in the nation and I think the passing attack will be too much for the Mighty Chips to handle.