Scheumann Stadium -- Muncie, Ind
The Hilltoppers fell at #4 Wisconsin 34-3 in Week One. More surprising was a 31-28 home loss to FCS member Maine was again three points shy last Saturday in a 20-17 loss at Louisville.
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS (0-3)
➤➤ After an outstanding 11-3 (7-1 C-USA) record in 2016, the Hilltoppers fell to 6-6 in regular season play last year. That got WKU to a bowl game, but Georgia State took a 27-17 decision in the Autonation Cure Bowl.
➤➤ Western was picked to finish fifth of seven teams in the Conference USA East Division this year.
➤➤ The Hilltoppers are scoring 16.0 ppg and allowing 28.3 ppg. They have been most productive in the first quarter (28 points), but have scored just three points in the third quarter.
Opponents have scored 7, 34, 20 and 24 points respectively (quarters 1-4). The Hilltoppers scored 21 first quarter points in the loss to Maine but got seven points the rest of the way.
➤➤ WKU is averaging 111.3 rushing yards per game and 3.1 ypc.
➤➤ Western averages 282 yards passing per contest. Four of five Hilltopper touchdowns came via the airways.
➤➤ Junior Lucky Johnson tops receivers with 12 catches for 193 yards and two TDs. Quin Jernighan (11 catches, 139 yards) and Garland LaFrance (12 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD) follow.
➤➤ Senior D’Andre Ferby (6-1, 230) tops WKU runners with 22 carries totaling 102 yards (4.6 ypg).
➤➤ Quarterback Drew Eckels has completed 38 of 67 passes (56.7%), good for 514 yards and three touchdowns. The senior has not thrown an interception, but he has been sacked seven times so far in 2018. His longest pass play of the season came against Maine when he hit LaFrance on a 75-yard catch and run.
BALL STATE CARDINALS (1-2)
➤➤ The Cardinals last outing was a 38-20 loss to undefeated Indiana. The Hoosiers big 21-point second quarter put IU in control. After Morgan Hagee connected on a 31-yard field goal to open scoring, the Cardinals got one more score. That was a 27-yard run by James Gilbert late in the third stanza.
➤➤ Ball State got 204 yards from its running game against Indiana. Gilbert, who is second among MAC runners (87.0 ypg) provided 89 yards on 16 trips. However, the Hoosiers run 255 yards and scored four rushing TDs.
➤➤ Junior QB Ryan Neal completed 12 of 24 passes, good for 115 yards against Indiana. He launched 50 passes at Notre Dame, completing 23 (46%), picking up 180 yards and one touchdown while tossing two interceptions.
His best outing came in the Cardinals Week One 42-6 win over Central Connecticut. Ryan completed 23 of 30 (76.7%), good for 259 yards and two TDs.
➤➤ Ball State is fourth among MAC teams in total offense (449.3 ypg) and eighth in total defense (387.3 ypg)
➤➤ The Cardinals are third (MAC) in pass defense efficiency.
➤➤ There are only nine seniors on the Ball State roster -- second fewest among all FBS teams.
➤➤ This is the fifth meeting between WKU and Ball State. Each team has won two. Western won the most recent meeting, a 33-21 decision last year in Bowling Green.