NASHVILLE – Injuries are piling up as Western Kentucky enters the stretch run of its season. Several key Hilltoppers sat out the team’s 31-17 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday, and more players got roughed up in the defeat.

Tight end Deon Yelder, wide receivers Cameron Echols-Luper and Kylen Towner and linebacker Daeshawn Bertram all missed the game entirely. Right tackle Matt Nord was listed on the participation chart but didn’t see much action.

Adding to those injury woes, quarterback Mike White left the game in its final minute after being dragged down on a scramble attempt. Coach Mike Sanford said the QB is being evaluated and is day to day, but that he doesn’t think White suffered a major injury.

Linebacker Demetrius Cain, who can also play defensive end in pass-rushing situations, went down to a second-quarter injury and didn’t return. Wide receiver Xavier Lane missed time during the final quarter after taking a hard shot on an incompletion, though Sanford said he was able to return to action.

Wide receiver Nacarius Fant said injuries aren’t an excuse for losing, but that they affect rhythm for WKU (5-4).

“You have guys that have played all year and then get hurt (before) a big game, a situation like this,” the senior Fant said. “I would say next man steps up, but that chemistry kind of lacks a little bit when new guys come in and play.”

Yelder’s absence was a costly one, as he’d been the Hilltoppers’ top receiver through eight games, posting 49.9 receiving yards per game, 12.1 yards per catch and four touchdowns. The redshirt senior wore a walking boot over his right foot Saturday on the sidelines.

Mik’Quan Deane started in Yelder’s place at tight end, finishing with five catches for 57 yards.

Towner’s loss cost WKU its most explosive slot receiver and all-time leading kick returner. Echols-Luper’s absence meant the Toppers were without one of their best all-around receivers. Bertram provided depth and solid tackling from his linebacker position.

Sanford will hope to get key players back for WKU’s final three regular-season games, starting next weekend at Marshall.

“The injuries have been a story line,” Sanford said. “We’ve got to find ways to win football games regardless of who we’re able to play with. There’s going to be no excuses along those lines.

“We’re going to play guys that are here on scholarship. I do love the fight they’ve shown. They’ve made a lot of plays, guys that weren’t starters at the beginning of the year. We’re going to have to continue with that.”

Jackson re-emerges in WKU loss

Wide receiver Lucky Jackson went into the season as WKU’s top returning receiver, but saw his role dramatically decrease over the three games before Saturday.

The redshirt sophomore started the Hilltoppers’ first five games as a wideout, then didn’t appear in an Oct. 14 win against Charlotte due to a coach’s decision. He played sparingly the last two games.

A combination of attrition out wide and Jackson’s improved practice attitude led to more playing time for Jackson on Saturday, Sanford said. He delivered with seven catches for 135 yards, including a 54-yard grab in the second quarter.

The reception total tied a career high for Jackson, while the yardage was second to the 144 he posted in a Sept. 2 win against Eastern Kentucky.

Jackson said he got back in his groove during the week by “just practicing like the game.”

“Every day I was out early, staying late, watching a little extra film and putting a little extra work in,” the Lexington native said. “It paid off.”

Jackson now has 31 catches for 455 yards in eight games this season – averages of 56.9 yards per game and 14.7 yards per catch.

“I was really proud with his effort, his resolve,” Sanford said of Jackson. “The whole week, you could tell he was hungry.

“I think the fact other guys stepped up and made plays over the course of (a four-game) win streak, I think that really did lead Lucky to do some soul searching. He did some and came out today and was a much better contributor to this team. I’m proud of the way he competed today.”

Up Next

WKU jumps back into Conference USA play for its final three regular-season games of the 2017 season. The first of those comes at 5:30 p.m. CDT Saturday at Marshall.

The Hilltoppers and Thundering Herd are both 3-2 in C-USA play, tied for third in the league’s East Division.

Notes

Sanford is 5-4 both in his coaching career and in his first year as WKU’s head coach. White is 16-7 as the Hilltoppers’ starting quarterback. … Vanderbilt leads its all-time series against the Hilltoppers 5-1 and is 4-1 against WKU in Nashville. This was the final installment of a three-year series between the two schools. … Saturday’s game marked the Toppers’ first November loss since a 59-10 defeat Nov. 1, 2014, at Louisiana Tech. … WKU fell to 3-9 against Power Five conference opponents dating back to 2012. … Announced attendance at Vanderbilt Stadium was 26,350.{&end}