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HELP WANTED: Tops needed help from Bearkats to reach CUSA title game against Jax State

Published on Friday, November 29, 2024, 6:55 p.m

The Western Kentucky football team became loyal Bearkats fans on Friday, at least for a day.

The Hilltoppers needed help from Conference USA rival Sam Houston State – a win by the host Bearkats over Liberty in Friday’s game in Huntsville, Texas would give the Tops a chance to reach the CUSA championship game against Jacksonville State – assuming The Tops also beat Jax State on Saturday at Houchens-Smith Stadium. Game time is 3 p.m., broadcast on ESPNU.

With WKU (7-4 overall, 5-2 CUSA) facing Liberty and Sam Houston, it could come down to tiebreakers to determine who will face host Jax State in the CUSA Championship next Friday may. That’s why the Tops need the Bearkats to win, as WKU has a head-to-head lead against Sam Houston after winning the regular-season match 31-14 on Oct. 16. Liberty, which defeated the Tops 38-21 last week, controls its own destiny and clinch the spot with a win on Friday. Sam Houston must win and WKU must lose to reach the title game.

So a Liberty win in that game on Friday means the defending champion Flames would play Jacksonville State — which has already secured a spot and home field in the CUSA title game. In this case, the Tops enter the regular-season finale on Saturday at 3 p.m., only to finish strong on Senior Day and look forward to bowl season.

Those are two very different scenarios – playing for a chance at the championship or not – but WKU head coach Tyson Helton expects his team will be sufficiently motivated to compete against the Gamecocks either way.

“You control the controllable factors,” Helton said during Monday’s weekly press conference. “You don’t worry about things you can’t control. You play the game to win. So we’re not focusing on this piece; We’re focused on beating Jacksonville State. Obviously, Jacksonville State won the championship, and I think you definitely have to have a championship mentality. They are undefeated so our boys will relish the opportunity to play against this football team at home.

“A lot of guys will be playing their last game at home and that means a lot to those guys, so there’s a lot to gain no matter what the circumstances are. If anything, it’s the next game. It is the next opportunity and the pride you have in yourself, this university and this program. We play the game to win.”

Jacksonville State (8-3, 7-0 CUSA) poses many problems for the Hilltoppers. Since starting the season with three straight losses, the Gamecocks have rattled off eight straight wins. Jax State boasts the league’s best offense (37.1 points per game), while the Tops are third – but are still nearly 10 points behind at 27.4 points per game.

Under veteran head coach Rich Rodriguez, the Gamecocks boast a dominant rushing attack led by running back Tre Stewart, CUSA’s leading rusher with 1,318 yards and 19 touchdowns. Jax State quarterback Tyler Huff ranks third in the CUSA in rushing with 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns.

That could spell trouble for WKU, which enters Saturday’s game with the league’s worst rushing defense (206.4 yards per game). Still, the Tops have made do for most of the season by being CUSA’s strongest defense in the red zone and third-best in scoring defense (22.6 points per game).

“Their quarterback Tyler Huff is a phenomenal player. He’s doing a great job of executing the game plan they expect from him,” WKU defensive coordinator Tyson Summers said. “The defensive backs have three or four that are really, really good and obviously Tre Stewart is kind of the star there and one of the leading rushers in the league, so that’s kind of the beginning for them. “They know who they are, they know , who they want to be – downhill runners – and enough of the split zone reading and the like to somehow cause problems. I think they do an excellent job.

“The receivers are good, they hit home runs. They’ve done a great job all season being able to run past people and then you see their O-line and their tight ends and they play really, really well together.”

WKU boasts CUSA’s best passing offense, with redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp leading the league in passing touchdowns (21) while completing 187 of 273 passes for 2,364 yards. Veltkamp, ​​who has thrown 10 interceptions this season, has also thrown for seven touchdowns.

In last week’s loss at Liberty, Veltkamp threw for two touchdowns but also had three interceptions. Helton said Veltkamp will start Saturday, with senior TJ Finley — who began the season as a starter before an injury opened the door for Veltkamp — eligible to play again for the third straight week.

“I don’t really see anything changing,” Helton said. “Caden will be the guy and TJ has been great supporting Caden. He’s ready to go whenever we need him.”

Jax State has been the league’s best at causing turnovers this season with 11 interceptions and 10 forced fumbles.

“They play fast. They struck. They collect the ball,” WKU offensive coordinator Will Friend said. “They have good pass rushers. All of the things that equal force the offense to commit turnovers. Teams with a lot of turnovers usually fly around, they play hard, and they have guys going after the quarterback. They do a lot of things, so it’s going to be a big challenge for us, which it always is, but I think it’s going to be huge in this ballgame.”

About Jeff Nations

Sports Editor, Bowling Green Daily News

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