WKU wins Conference USA Showdown against Louisiana Tech but lose Allen in the Third

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The projected top two teams in Conference USA squared off on Thursday night for a thrilling game but with potentially steep consequences for the Hilltoppers in a 41-38 win over Louisiana Tech.

Western Kentucky (2-0) jumped out to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter behind a steady offensive mix of quarterback Brandon Doughty and running back Leon Allen. Doughty started the early onslaught hitting Taywan Taylor on a 37-yard pass down the middle of the field. Allen scored late in the first quarter on a 28-yard run before a back-and-forth second quarter.

In the second quarter both teams would score three teams with the Bulldogs (1-1) picking up a Jonathan Barnes 37-yard field goal early in the second to get on the board at 14-3. WKU responded with a 99-yard kickoff return by Kylen Towner pushing the lead to 21-3.

Tech quarterback Jeff Driskel hit Trent Taylor on a 13-yard to start the Bulldog rally. WKU responded with a 39-yard field goal, then Kenneth Dixon broke free on a 6-yard touchdown run for Louisiana Tech putting the score at 24-17. WKU would respond as the second quarter was winding down on a 25-yard field goal to go up 27-17 at the half.

The game took an ugly turn in the third quarter when Leon Allen suffered a horrific leg injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season. Allen was carted off after being tackled on an incomplete pass with his left leg bending back on the way down to the ground. Allen left the game with 81 yards rushing on 12 carries with one score. He also pulled down one pass for 53 yards.

In Allen’s absence D’Andre Ferby stepped up rushing 14 times for 39 yards getting a touchdown late in the third quarter on a 1-yard plunge up the middle pushing the score to 38-24.

In the fourth quarter both teams held each other off the scoreboard until a late Bulldogs push with under three minutes produced a Jeff Driskel touchdown run (38-31), a WKU 29-yard Garrett Schwettman field goal (41-31), and another Driskel touchdown pass, this one a 21-yard connection with Paul Turner for the game’s final score.

The showdown was without little defense seeing WKU edge Tech 590 total yards to 580. Doughty had another monster game completing 28-of-38 passes for 441 yards with one touchdown. Doughty did a great job of spreading the ball around hitting nine different receivers with Taylor leading the group in yards with 97 and Tyler Higbee pulling down a team-high seven for 88 yards.

Florida transfer quarterback Jeff Driskel was sharp in spots completing 28-of-48 passes for 357 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. Driskel added 55 yards on the ground with another score. Trent Taylor led all receivers with nine receptions and 119 receiving yards. Paul Turner had an excellent game with seven receptions for 109 yards.

Tech only utilized two ball carries, Driskel and Kenneth Dixon. Dixon led all rushers with 22 touches for 168 yards with two scores.

Western Kentucky got the win but put a lot of laundry on the field getting called for 10 penalties totaling 109 yards.

Louisiana Tech travels next week to Kansas State and WKU heads to Big Ten country to face Indiana.

Photo credit: Austin Anthony, Daily News; No. 33 Leon Allen celebrates a touchdown against Louisiana Tech.