Flames’ strong run game too much for Tops in 38-21 loss
Published 11:17 pm Saturday, November 23, 2024
Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young carries for yardage during the Hilltoppers' 38-21 loss to Liberty on Saturday in Lynchburg, Virginia. (SAVANNAH PHILPOT / WKU Athletics)
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore wide receiver K.D. Hutchinson tries to break a tackle during the Hilltoppers' 38-21 loss to Liberty on Saturday in Lynchburg, Virginia. (SAVANNAH PHILPOT / WKU Athletics)
Western Kentucky redshirt senior wide receiver Dalvin Smith signals a first down during the Hilltoppers' 38-21 loss to Liberty on Saturday in Lynchburg, Virginia. (SAVANNAH PHILPOT / WKU Athletics)
WKU Hilltoppers | Photo by Savannah Philpot
Western Kentucky redshirt senior wide receiver Dalvin Smith makes a catch during the Hilltoppers' 38-21 loss to Liberty on Saturday in Lynchburg, Virginia. (SAVANNAH PHILPOT / WKU Athletics)
Western Kentucky’s pursuit of a spot in a Conference USA Football Championship got much harder with a 38-21 loss to Liberty on Saturday at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The Hilltoppers fall to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in CUSA play with the loss. With the loss, WKU would need to beat current league leader Jacksonville State next Saturday at Houchens-Smith Stadium and have Sam Houston State beat visiting Liberty as well. That would earn the Tops a road trip to face Jacksonville State for the CUSA title. If of WKU or Sam Houston loses, the Tops won’t make the championship.
“Hats off to Liberty. They got the best of us today,” WKU coach Tyson Helton said in a news release. “Had a lot of opportunities, especially in the first half. It’s going to be hard with three turnovers in the first half. We moved the ball well. Defensively, they controlled the line of scrimmage by far and they ran it pretty good against us. We had a hard time stopping them today. Regroup and we’ll get to come home and play Jacksonville State and try to put our best football together and try to get a win.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the Hilltoppers found the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 13:17 remaining in the second quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Caden Veltkamp to wide receiver Dalvin Smith.
Liberty scored three unanswered touchdowns to end the first half, starting with a 2-yard run with 9:30 to play in the second quarter to make it 7-7.
The Flames added a 22-yard run with 2:05 to play in the first half to take their first lead of the game, 14-7.
Liberty scored with 10 seconds to play in the second quarter on an 11-yard pass to go ahead 21-7 at the break.
WKU cut into the deficit on the first possession of the second half, scoring on a 2-yard run from George Hart III to make it 21-14. The touchdown was set up by a 32-yard pass to Kisean Johnson and an 18-yard pass to Easton Messer.
Liberty extended its lead to 28-14 with 9:44 to play in the third with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Veltkamp connected with Johnson for a 16-yard touchdown with 3:44 remaining in the third to make it a one-score game, 28-21.
Liberty made a 29-yard field goal with 11:13 to play to extend its lead to 31-21.
The Flames capped off the win with a 3-yard touchdown run with 2:59 to play, making it 38-21.
The Hilltoppers fall to 0-5 all-time against Liberty with the loss.
WKU recorded 368 yards in the loss, with 262 through the air and 106 on the ground. Veltkamp threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-34 passing with a pair of interceptions. It was Veltkamp’s seventh game of the season throwing multiple touchdown passes.
Elijah Young led WKU on the ground with 60 yards on nine rushing attempts and added 26 yards on three receptions.
Six different WKU players caught passes in the loss, with four catching multiple passes. Kisean Johnson led WKU receivers with 94 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
Smith’s second-quarter touchdown was the 20th touchdown reception of his career, which puts him in sole possession of seventh place on WKU’s record list for career touchdown receptions.
Eighteen Hilltoppers recorded multiple tackles, led by a career-high 16 from Devonte’ Mathews, who also forced a fumble. Upton Stout also recorded double-digit tackles, finishing with 10.
The WKU defense didn’t allow Liberty to complete a pass during the first quarter. Kent Robinson’s had the only sack in the game. WKU’s defense had five tackles for loss, with a team-high two coming from Kylan Guidry.
Liberty outgained the Tops 556-368 in total offense, with the Flames piling up 419 rushing yards. Quinton Cooley tallied 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Billy Lucas had 131 rushing yards and a score for the Flames.
The Hilltoppers will close out the regular season at home and celebrate senior day against Jax State on Nov. 30. Kickoff at Houchens-Smith Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
