American college football season
2022 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football |
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New Orleans Bowl champion |
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Conference | Conference USA |
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Record | 9–5 (6–2 C-USA) |
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Head coach | - Tyson Helton (4th season)
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Co-offensive coordinator | Ben Arbuckle (1st season) |
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Co-offensive coordinator | Josh Crawford (1st season) |
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Offensive scheme | Air raid |
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Defensive coordinator | Tyson Summers (1st season) |
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Base defense | 3–3–5 |
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Home stadium | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium |
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Seasons |
The 2022 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by head coach Tyson Helton, who was coaching his fourth season with the team. The Hilltoppers played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The team was led on offense by quarterback Austin Reed who joined the team in 2022 via the NCAA transfer portal.[1] Through the first two games, Reed had 550 passing yards, ranking third in the nation.[2]
Preseason
C-USA media day
The Conference USA media day was held on July 27 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Hilltoppers were represented by head coach Tyson Helton, tight end Joey Beljan, and defensive end Juwuan Jones.[3] The Hilltoppers were predicted to finish third in the conference's preseason poll.[4]
Media poll |
Predicted finish | Team |
1 | UTSA |
2 | UAB |
3 | WKU |
4 | Florida Atlantic |
5 | North Texas |
6 | UTEP |
7 | Charlotte |
8 | Middle Tennessee |
9 | Louisiana Tech |
10 | Rice |
11 | FIU |
Roster
Schedule
Western Kentucky and Conference USA announced the 2022 football schedule on March 30, 2022.[5][6]
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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August 27 | 11:00 a.m. | Austin Peay* | | CBSSN | W 38–27 | 13,688 |
September 3 | 11:00 p.m. | at Hawaii* | | SPEC PPV | W 49–17 | 9,346 |
September 17 | 11:00 a.m. | at Indiana* | | BTN | L 30–33 OT | 48,952 |
September 24 | 2:30 p.m. | FIU | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| CBSSN | W 73–0 | 15,127 |
October 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Troy* | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| ESPN+ | L 27–34 | 20,168 |
October 8 | 5:00 p.m. | at UTSA | | ESPN+ | L 28–31 | 22,328 |
October 15 | 2:30 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee | | ESPN+ | W 35–17 | 14,806 |
October 21 | 7:00 p.m. | UAB | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| CBSSN | W 20–17 | 16,334 |
October 29 | 2:30 p.m. | North Texas | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| Stadium | L 13–40 | 17,194 |
November 5 | 11:00 a.m. | at Charlotte | | CBSSN | W 59–7 | 10,857 |
November 12 | 1:00 p.m. | Rice | - Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
- Bowling Green, KY
| ESPN+ | W 45–10 | 10,127 |
November 19 | 3:00 p.m. | at Auburn* | | SECN | L 17–41 | 81,824 |
November 26 | 11:00 a.m. | at Florida Atlantic | | CBSSN | W 32–31 OT | 18,376 |
December 21 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. South Alabama* | | ESPN | W 44–23 | 13,456 |
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Game summaries
Austin Peay
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Governors | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
Hilltoppers | 7 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 38 |
Statistics | APSU | WKU |
First downs | 19 | 19 |
Total yards | 319 | 388 |
Rushing yards | 163 | 108 |
Passing yards | 156 | 280 |
Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
Time of possession | 32:39 | 27:31 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Austin Peay | Passing | Mike DiLiello | 15/21, 156 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Josh Samuel | 20 rushes, 77 yards |
Receiving | Drae McCray | 6 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TD |
Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 20/34, 280 yards, 4 TD, INT |
Rushing | Davion Ervin-Poindexter | 15 rushes, 49 yards |
Receiving | Daewood Davis | 6 receptions, 124 yards, TD |
At Hawaii
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hilltoppers | 0 | 21 | 7 | 21 | 49 |
Rainbow Warriors | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Statistics | WKU | HAW |
First downs | 24 | 20 |
Total yards | 412 | 360 |
Rushing yards | 141 | 94 |
Passing yards | 271 | 266 |
Turnovers | 2 | 6 |
Time of possession | 25:52 | 34:08 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 22/31, 271 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Kye Robichaux | 7 rushes, 49 yards, TD |
Receiving | Daewood Davis | 5 receptions, 78 yards |
Hawaii | Passing | Brayden Schager | 22/33, 230 yards, 4 INT |
Rushing | Nasjzae Bryant-Lelei | 13 rushes, 64 yards, TD |
Receiving | Jalen Walthall | 3 receptions, 53 yards |
At Indiana
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Hilltoppers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 30 |
Hoosiers | 3 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 33 |
Statistics | WKU | IU |
First downs | 25 | 28 |
Total yards | 545 | 484 |
Rushing yards | 216 | 120 |
Passing yards | 329 | 364 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 32:21 | 27:39 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 33/43, 329 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Kye Robichaux | 14 rushes, 135 yards |
Receiving | Daewood Davis | 5 receptions, 77 yards, TD |
Indiana | Passing | Connor Bazelak | 33/55, 364 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Josh Henderson | 11 rushes, 65 yards, TD |
Receiving | Cam Camper | 8 receptions, 93 yards, TD |
FIU
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hilltoppers | 14 | 28 | 17 | 14 | 73 |
Statistics | FIU | WKU |
First downs | 10 | 32 |
Total yards | 180 | 688 |
Rushing yards | 56 | 210 |
Passing yards | 124 | 478 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 30:32 | 29:28 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
FIU | Passing | Grayson James | 13/23, 85 yards |
Rushing | Lexington Joseph | 15 rushes, 31 yards |
Receiving | Nate Jefferson | 4 receptions, 27 yards |
Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 29/35, 381 yards, 5 TD |
Rushing | L. T. Sanders | 4 rushes, 73 yards, TD |
Receiving | Malachi Corley | 3 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TD |
Troy
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Trojans | 10 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 34 |
Hilltoppers | 7 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
At UTSA
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hilltoppers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
Roadrunners | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
At Middle Tennessee
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hilltoppers | 0 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
Blue Raiders | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
UAB
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Blazers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Hilltoppers | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
North Texas
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Mean Green | 17 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 40 |
Hilltoppers | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Statistics | UNT | WKU |
First downs | 25 | 23 |
Total yards | 541 | 466 |
Rushing yards | 196 | 146 |
Passing yards | 345 | 320 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Time of possession | 29:05 | 30:55 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 20/28, 322 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Ayo Adeyi | 10 rushes, 72 yards, TD |
Receiving | Damon Ward Jr. | 4 receptions, 101 yards, TD |
Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 29/49, 320 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | L. T. Sanders | 13 rushes, 76 yards |
Receiving | Malachi Corley | 8 receptions, 97 yards |
At Charlotte
Western Kentucky vs Charlotte | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Hilltoppers | 21 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 59 | 49ers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | - Date: November 5
- Location: Jerry Richardson Stadium
Charlotte, NC - Game start: 12:02 pm EDT
- Elapsed time: 3:17
- Game attendance: 10,857
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Cloudy• Wind: S 9 MPH
- Referee: Rodney Burnett
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn, Robert Turbin
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 14:32 | WKU | Jaylen HALL 46 Yd pass from Austin REED (Brayden NARVESON Kick) | WKU 7–0 | | 1 | 11:55 | WKU | Daewood DAVIS 7 Yd pass from Austin REED (Brayden NARVESON Kick) | WKU 14–0 | | 1 | 6:52 | WKU | Malachi CORLEY 64 Yd pass from Austin REED (Brayden NARVESON Kick) | WKU 21–0 | | 2 | 13:00 | WKU | Joshua SIMON 17 Yd pass from Austin REED (Brayden NARVESON Kick) | WKU 28–0 | | 2 | 1:02 | WKU | Joey BELJAN 14 Yd pass from Austin REED (Brayden NARVESON Kick) | WKU 35–0 | | 3 | 10:32 | CHAR | Elijah SPENCER 14 Yd pass from Chris REYNOLDS (Antonio ZITA Kick) | WKU 35–7 | | 3 | 9:58 | WKU | Michael MATHISON 19 Yd pass from Austin REED (Brayden NARVESON Kick) | WKU 42–7 | | 4 | 9:06 | WKU | Brayden NARVESON 40 Yd Field Goal | WKU 45–7 | | 4 | 7:50 | WKU | Anthony BRACKENRIDGE 42 Yd Interception Return (Brayden NARVESON Kick) | WKU 52–7 | | 4 | 0:45 | WKU | Dalvin SMITH 5 Yd pass from Darius OCEAN (Brayden NARVESON Kick) | WKU 59–7 | |
Statistics | WKU | CHAR |
First downs | 25 | 22 |
Total yards | 592 | 384 |
Rushing yards | 131 | 161 |
Passing yards | 461 | 223 |
Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
Time of possession | 20:26 | 39:34 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 23–38, 409 yards, 6 TD |
Rushing | Davion Ervin-Poindexter | 3 rushes, 49 yards |
Receiving | Malachi Corley | 6 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TD |
Charlotte | Passing | Chris Reynolds | 17–27, 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | James Martin III | 16 rushes, 85 yards |
Receiving | Grant DuBose | 7 receptions, 88 yards |
Rice
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hilltoppers | 7 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
Owls | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
At Auburn
Game Twelve – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (7−4) at Auburn Tigers (4−6)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hilltoppers | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Tigers | 10 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 41 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama
- Date: Saturday, November 19, 2022
- Game time: 3:01 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: 6 mph NW
- Game attendance: 81,824
- Referee: Scott Walker
- TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), Andraya Carter (sideline reporter)
Statistics | WKU | AUB |
First downs | | |
Plays–yards | | |
Rushes–yards | | |
Passing yards | | |
Passing: comp–att–int | | |
Time of possession | | |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 26/55, 289 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Markese Stepp | 7 carries, 33 yards |
Receiving | Malachi Corley | 12 receptions, 99 yards |
Auburn | Passing | Jarquez Hunter | 1/1, 20 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Tank Bigsby | 18 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | Koy Moore | 2 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD |
At Florida Atlantic
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Owls | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
Hilltoppers | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 32 |
South Alabama (New Orleans Bowl)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hilltoppers | 14 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 44 |
Jaguars | 0 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 23 |
References
- ^ "Reed throws four TD passes, Western Kentucky rolls in opener". My San Antonio. August 27, 2022.
- ^ "Football Player Passing Stats 2022". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Ryan C-USA Kickoff Set for July 27 in Arlington". Conference USA. June 30, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ "C-USA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish for 2022". Conference USA. July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Nick Bromberg (March 30, 2022). "Conference USA releases revised 2022 football schedule without teams leaving for Sun Belt". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ "Hilltoppers announce revised 2022 football schedule". Bowling Green Daily News. March 30, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ "GAME NOTES: Charlotte vs. WKU". Charlotte49ers.com. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Watts Breaks Sacks Record; Niners Suffer Home Loss". Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Scoring Summary Report 2022 Charlotte Football, Western Kentucky vs Charlotte (Nov 5, 2022 at Charlotte NC)". November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Western Kentucky vs Charlotte– Game Summary". ESPN. November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Bailey, Hunter (November 5, 2022). "Charlotte 49ers football loses to Western Kentucky at home". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | - Big Red
- "Stand Up and Cheer"
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |