Nov 2, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University defense had been close to posting a shutout in each of the previous three weeks, but usually one or two plays cost the Hilltoppers the whitewashing as the opposition scored a single touchdown. The unit made sure that didn't happen again Saturday night at L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix Field.
Sherrod Coates and Charles Thompson each had six tackles to lead 21st-ranked Western to a 9-0 Gateway Football Conference victory over No. 25 Illinois State on Senior Day, tying the lowest scoring game in league history while helping the Toppers to their fifth consecutive victory.
WKU (7-3, 5-1 Gateway) defeated the Redbirds (5-4, 3-2 GFC) for the second straight year and the fourth time in as many tries in Bowling Green. The Toppers lead the all-time series, 7-2.
Western held ISU to a season-low 120 total yards, giving up just seven first downs while allowing the Redbirds to reach midfield twice without crossing into Hilltopper territory. Three of Coates' six tackles came behind the line of scrimmage, including a pair of sacks, while Thompson broke up four passes. Three other WKU players -- Jon Drummond, Karl Maslowski and Antonio Veals -- added five stops each as the Toppers recorded five sacks. Drummond also collected his first interception in three years to help set up a Western scoring drive.
The 'Birds were 1-of-13 on third-down conversions and held the ball for just 22:24.
"This is a great, great team victory," said WKU head coach Jack Harbaugh. "The defense played extremely well and the offense responded. They did exactly what we asked them to -- they didn't turn the ball over and they found ways to move the ball. Coach (Willie) Taggart called a great game and displayed tremendous patience in getting the job done."
Jon Frazier helped Western move the ball to set up Peter Martinez, who accounted for all the scoring in the contest with a career-best three field goals. The senior placekicker gave WKU the lead with a 20-yard chip shot at 10:37 of the second quarter after Jerome Reaves was ruled out of bounds on a third-down pass attempt the previous play. He doubled the advantage with a 34-yard field goal just before the half and later added insurance on a 24-yard kick with 4:35 left in the third quarter.
Frazier ended up with 119 yards on 30 carries, the seventh straight game he has led Western in rushing, while Maurice Bradley added 67 yards and Jeremi Johnson need only five attempts to collect another 56.
Jason Michael was 2-of-7 for 52 yards, with Jerome Reaves catching a ball for 47 yards and also completing the first pass attempt of his career for 25 yards to Casey Rooney.
The Hilltoppers -- who entered the game ranked 10th in I-AA in rushing -- collected 259 of their 336 total yards on the ground.
Brian Claybourn punted a season-high-tying seven times, averaging 45.3 yards per kick, while Veals returned five ISU punts for 32 yards.
Boomer Grigsby recorded 19 tackles and T.J. Jackson added 12 for the Redbirds. "I'll tell you one thing, Illinois State's Boomer Grigsby is one outstanding football player," Harbaugh said. "I thought he must have had 25 tackles."
The Redbirds' Quincy Washington rushed for 66 yards to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the season, but Michael Souza managed to complete only 8-of-21 pass attempts for 58 yards.
Nineteen Hilltoppers made their last regular-season appearance at Smith Stadium in the contest. "Our seniors have already been in the playoffs two times in their three years here," said Harbaugh. "We are losing some great players and some great young men."
Western will have its first open weekend of the season before returning to action against Southern Illinois in its regular-season finale. Kickoff, in Carbondale, Ill., is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (CST), with the Hilltoppers needing a victory to ensure at least a tie for the Gateway Conference championship.
-- WKU --
