Fant, Iyiegbuniwe enjoy career nights for WKU in home finale
Published 12:19 pm Monday, November 20, 2017
Western Kentucky senior wide receiver Nacarius Fant (Bowling Green Class of 2014) and redshirt junior linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe (South Warren Class of 2014) enjoyed career nights in the Hilltoppers’ 41-38 triple-overtime win against Conference USA rival Middle Tennessee State at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
Fant hauled in a career-high 14 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. The 14 catches was the second-most single-game total in WKU history, and Fant eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark for the second time in his career during his final home game. Fant’s 5-yard touchdown catch – his third of the season – tied the game and helped send it to a third overtime.
Iyiegbuniwe tied his career-high of 15 tackles for the second consecutive week, which tied for second most all-time by a Hilltopper. He also aded three tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
WKU redshirt sophomore defensive back Ta’Corian Darden (Russellville Class of 2015) also reached double-digits in tackles with 10 (six solo) and had a pass breakup.
Tops redshirt sophomore linebacker Ben Holt (Bowling Green Class of 2015) added three tackles, including one for a loss of six yards. WKU redshirt sophomore running back Marquez Trigg (Glasgow Class of 2015) added one carry for three yards in the win.
WKU (6-5, 4-3 C-USA) is back in action Friday, Nov. 24 at Florida International. It will be the final game of the regular season for the Hilltoppers, who are bowl eligible.
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A trio of former area standouts now playing for Centre have landed Southern Athletic Association all-conference football honors.
Colonels running back Colin Burnam (Warren Central Class of 2015) garnered second-team All-SAA honors. Burnam turned in a strong junior campaign after battling an early injury, finishing with 125 carries for 640 yards and four touchdowns. He was particularly crucial in a 28-13 win at Millsaps on Oct. 28, when he chewed the clock with 30 carries and a career-high 204 yards.
Centre senior quarterback Devin Hayes (Bowling Green Class of 2014) and senior offensive lineman Jacob Mills (Bowling Green Class of 2014) were named as All-SAA Honorable Mention selections.
Despite missing a game due to an injury, Hayes tied his own program record with 28 passing touchdowns, including a final four-game stretch where he tossed 17 touchdowns and just one interception. Hayes was also the third member of the Centre football team to earn CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 team honors.
Mills was a full-time starter on the offensive line, which landed four of five regular starters on the SAA’s All-Conference lists.
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Kentucky Wesleyan freshman defensive lineman Dalan Cofer (Bowling Green Class of 2017) has been named as a second-team selection on the All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference team.
Cofer anchored the Panthers’ defense at the defensive end slot, totaling 35 tackles including 21 solo. Cofer recorded six tackles for a loss of 16-yards and 0.5 sacks. Cofer forced one fumble in the Panthers’ 34-30 win at Malone (Ohio).
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Lindsey Wilson sophomore defensive lineman Damani Jenkins (Barren County Class of 2015) tallied three tackles – two solo – in the fourth-ranked Blue Raiders’ 63-49 home win Saturday over No. 9 Southeastern (Fla.) in the opening round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.
With the win, Lindsey Wilson (11-0) advances to the quarterfinals for the third time in school history. The Blue Raiders will host No. 5 Southern Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Blue Raider Stadium in Columbia. Game time is 1 p.m.
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Murray State redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jensen Feggins (Warren Central Class of 2015) tallied seven catches for 62 yards in the Racers’ 21-10 season-ending loss at Southeast Missouri State on Saturday.
Racers redshirt junior punter Landon Stratton (Logan County Class of 2014) finished with seven punts for 233 yards, with one inside the 20-yard line.
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Indiana State redshirt junior cornerback Rondell Green (Warren Central Class of 2013) tallied six tackles in the Sycamores’ season-ending 41-3 road loss at Northern Iowa on Saturday.
Green had five solo tackles.
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Kentucky redshirt junior defensive tackle Adrian Middleton (South Warren Class of 2014) and sophomore linebacker Eli Brown (Warren East Class of 2015) notched one tackle each in Saturday’s 42-13 loss at Georgia.
Kentucky (7-4, 4-4 SEC) is back in action Saturday, Nov. 25 at home against Louisville.
– Jeff Nations