GAME AND SERIES NOTES
· WKU’s team captains for the game were Drew Davis, Forrest Lamp, T.J. McCollum and Anthony Wales.
· This was the 66th matchup between WKU and Middle Tennessee. With the Hilltoppers’ victory, they have won back-to-back matchups over the Raiders for the first time since 1979 and 1980.
· WKU improved to 13-19-1 all-time in Murfreesboro and 31-34-1 all-time in the series.
· The last 3 matchups in Murfreesboro have gone to overtime, including a 36-33 WKU win in 2011 (2OT) and a 50-47 Middle Tennessee win in 2014 (3OT).
TEAM NOTES
· WKU held Middle Tennessee scoreless in the 3rd quarter, it was the 8th scoreless quarter of the season for the Hilltoppers and the 2nd time this season they have held an opponent scoreless in the 3rd frame.
· WKU has had multiple overtime games in 4 of the last 6 seasons and are 5-3 in those 8 contests, including a 31-30 loss vs. Vanderbilt earlier this season.
PLAYER NOTES
· MIKE WHITE
o Completed 29 of 40 passes for 391 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. It was his 2nd-straight game with 300+ yards and his 3rd of the season. His interception was the 1st since the 3rd quarter vs. Vanderbilt.
· TAYWAN TAYLOR
o Had career-highs of 12 receptions for 197 yards while adding 1 touchdown. It was his 5th game this season of 100+ yards and 15th of his career.
· NICHOLAS NORRIS AND NACARIUS FANT
o Combined for 12 receptions and 162 yards on the day.
· ANTHONY WALES
o Had a career-high 27 carries for season-highs of 158 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was his 2nd game this season of 150+ yards and 4th of his career.
o Wales scored both WKU touchdowns in OT, including a 25-yarder on the 1st play of the 1st OT.
· KEITH BROWN
o Led the WKU defense in tackles for the 5th-straight game with 13 total tackles (9 solo, 4 assisted), including 0.5 TFL. He also added an interception in the 4th quarter, which he returned for 52 yards.
· BRANDEN LESTON
o Was 2nd on the team for the 3rd-straight game with 12 total tackles (10 solo, 2 assisted).
· OMARIUS BRYANT
o Led the team with two QB hurries and added 4 total tackles (2 solo, 2 assisted), including 1 TFL.
· DEON YELDER
o Blocked a Middle Tennessee PAT in the second overtime that led WKU to the 1-point victory. It was the 1st blocked extra point for the Hilltoppers since Jared Clendenin blocked a PAT at Middle Tennessee in the 2011 matchup.
· SKYLER SIMCOX
o Hit 3 of his 4 field goal attempts (42, 52 and 18 yards), and was a perfect 5 for 5 on extra points.
o The 52-yarder was his 2nd of 50+ yards this season. He became the 3rd kicker in program history with two 50+ made kicks in a career, and the 2nd with two 50+ made kicks in a season.
· WKU’s team captains for the game were Drew Davis, Forrest Lamp, T.J. McCollum and Anthony Wales.
· This was the 66th matchup between WKU and Middle Tennessee. With the Hilltoppers’ victory, they have won back-to-back matchups over the Raiders for the first time since 1979 and 1980.
· WKU improved to 13-19-1 all-time in Murfreesboro and 31-34-1 all-time in the series.
· The last 3 matchups in Murfreesboro have gone to overtime, including a 36-33 WKU win in 2011 (2OT) and a 50-47 Middle Tennessee win in 2014 (3OT).
TEAM NOTES
· WKU held Middle Tennessee scoreless in the 3rd quarter, it was the 8th scoreless quarter of the season for the Hilltoppers and the 2nd time this season they have held an opponent scoreless in the 3rd frame.
· WKU has had multiple overtime games in 4 of the last 6 seasons and are 5-3 in those 8 contests, including a 31-30 loss vs. Vanderbilt earlier this season.
PLAYER NOTES
· MIKE WHITE
o Completed 29 of 40 passes for 391 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. It was his 2nd-straight game with 300+ yards and his 3rd of the season. His interception was the 1st since the 3rd quarter vs. Vanderbilt.
· TAYWAN TAYLOR
o Had career-highs of 12 receptions for 197 yards while adding 1 touchdown. It was his 5th game this season of 100+ yards and 15th of his career.
· NICHOLAS NORRIS AND NACARIUS FANT
o Combined for 12 receptions and 162 yards on the day.
· ANTHONY WALES
o Had a career-high 27 carries for season-highs of 158 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was his 2nd game this season of 150+ yards and 4th of his career.
o Wales scored both WKU touchdowns in OT, including a 25-yarder on the 1st play of the 1st OT.
· KEITH BROWN
o Led the WKU defense in tackles for the 5th-straight game with 13 total tackles (9 solo, 4 assisted), including 0.5 TFL. He also added an interception in the 4th quarter, which he returned for 52 yards.
· BRANDEN LESTON
o Was 2nd on the team for the 3rd-straight game with 12 total tackles (10 solo, 2 assisted).
· OMARIUS BRYANT
o Led the team with two QB hurries and added 4 total tackles (2 solo, 2 assisted), including 1 TFL.
· DEON YELDER
o Blocked a Middle Tennessee PAT in the second overtime that led WKU to the 1-point victory. It was the 1st blocked extra point for the Hilltoppers since Jared Clendenin blocked a PAT at Middle Tennessee in the 2011 matchup.
· SKYLER SIMCOX
o Hit 3 of his 4 field goal attempts (42, 52 and 18 yards), and was a perfect 5 for 5 on extra points.
o The 52-yarder was his 2nd of 50+ yards this season. He became the 3rd kicker in program history with two 50+ made kicks in a career, and the 2nd with two 50+ made kicks in a season.
