Western Kentucky clinches C-USA East with win over Marshall
In just its second season as a member of Conference USA, Western Kentucky will play for the league title.
Behind a huge performance from senior quarterback Brandon Doughty, the Hilltoppers’ offense trounced through the Marshall defense in a 49-28 win that clinched the C-USA’s East division.
Doughty made easy work of the Thundering Herd secondary, throwing for 370 yards and five touchdowns on the afternoon. Additionally, Doughty became the first quarterback in FBS history to throw for 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
Junior running back Anthony Wales also had a big game for WKU, totaling 131 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. In all, the WKU offense racked up 546 yards, while Marshall could only muster 273 yards against a tough Hilltoppers defense.
The Hilltoppers set the tone early by scoring on just their third play from scrimmage – a 35-yard touchdown pass from Doughty to Nicholas Norris – but the second quarter was when WKU really turned it up.
Wales opened the quarter with a 15-yard touchdown run and before the half came to a close, Doughty had thrown for three more scores – two to tight end Tyler Higbee and another to Taywan Taylor.
Marshall was able to reach the end zone twice in the second quarter, but WKU was firmly in control with a 35-14 lead at halftime.
Marshall’s defense was able to stop the barrage a bit in the second half, but its offense could not muster enough to get back in the game. Two Garrett Schwettman field goals and Doughty’s fifth touchdown of the game sealed things for WKU, setting a date in the Conference USA title game on Dec. 5 against either Louisiana Tech or Southern Mississippi. The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles play Saturday to decide the C-USA West.
The Hilltoppers finish the regular season with a 10-2 record and a perfect 8-0 record in C-USA play. If WKU goes on to win the league title, the team could receive some consideration from the College Football Playoff committee as the top Group of Five team in the country.
With Navy and Toledo unable to win their respective conferences, that spot in a New Year’s Six bowl is up for grabs. The team that emerges from the AAC (Houston will face either Temple or South Florida in the title game) will likely be the favorite, but WKU will definitely be in the conversation.
For more Western Kentucky news, InsideHilltopperSports.com.
For more Marshall news, visit HerdNation.com.
- - - - - - -
Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
