Dec 14, 2002
STATESBORO, Ga. - Prior to the start of the 2002 season, popular opinion believed there was a quarterback controversy on the Western Kentucky University football team. But head coach Jack Harbaugh vehemently stated when camp started that Jason Michael was the man for the job.
Michael had a team-high 187 yards of total offense and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 46 seconds remaining Saturday to lead the Hilltoppers to a 31-28 victory over No. 3 Georgia Southern in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
Western will have a rematch against No. 1 McNeese State -- a 39-28 winner over Villanova -- in the national championship game Friday at 5:30 p.m. (CST) in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Toppers (11-3) earned their first victory in three tries over the Eagles (11-3), handing GSU just its second home loss in playoff history.
"Talk about deja vu all over again. This was the same situation we faced in Macomb last week, with the same score and almost the same distance on the field-goal attempt at the end. I'm tremendously proud of our football team," Harbaugh said. "The I-AA playoffs are a tremendous experience for all of those involved. ESPN got a great game today. Our hats are off to Georgia Southern and their coaching staff."
Michael led the Hilltoppers on a 13-play, 76-yard drive to earn the victory after the Eagles had posted 21 unanswered points in the final period to take their first lead of the game. He was 4-of-7 on the march, helping WKU convert twice on fourth down. He hit Casey Rooney on a 31-yard pass to set up a 1st-and-goal at the GSU-2 before going around right end for his team-leading 13th rushing touchdown of the season.
Trailing 24-7 entering the fourth, Chaz Williams threw touchdown passes of 47 yards to Zzream Walden and 20 yards to Anthony Williams before Jermaine Austin scored on a 31-yard run with 4:26 left to make the score 28-24.
The Toppers controlled the first three quarters, taking a 7-0 lead at 7:58 of the opening period when Jon Frazier scored on a 1-yard run to help Western capitalize on the first of two Eagle fumbles -- Karl Maslowski recovered an Austin miscue on the GSU-4 on the Eagles' second play from scrimmage. GSU tied the game when C. Williams scored on a 6-yard run, but Frazier ran in from 2 yards out with 9:04 remaining in the opening half to cap a 14-play, 98-yard drive. Peter Martinez added a season-long 49-yard field goal just before the half -- tying the school career record with his 47th three-pointer in the last three years -- to make it 17-7 at the break.
WKU forced a 3-and-out on the Eagles' opening possession of the second half. Michael led an 11-play march that covered 53 yards, scoring on a 1-yard run to give the Toppers a 24-7 advantage with 5:43 left in the third quarter.
Michael was 9-of-15 for 149 yards, completing three passes to both Rooney -- who posted a career-best 90 yards -- and Shannon Hayes.
Frazier led the Hilltoppers in rushing for the 11th time this season with 103 yards, his eighth 100-yard effort of the season.
Austin had a game-high 128 yards on 18 carries for GSU, but C. Williams managed just 16 yards on 15 attempts, the first time in 11 games he failed to break triple digits. The quarterback was 9-of-18 passing for 160 yards, with A. Williams and Walden scoring on their only receptions while Carl Kearney grabbed a game-best seven catches for 93 yards.
The Hilltoppers held the Eagles -- who entered the contest leading the nation with 398.54 yards per game rushing -- to a season-low 226 yards on the ground.
Maslowski, Brian Lowder and Antonio Veals all had eight tackles for WKU, and Sherrod Coates added five stops while recording a sack for the eighth straight game. Veals had two punt returns for 38 yards and a pair of kick returns for 46 yards.
Derrick Butler led all players with 12 tackles for GSU.
-- WKU --
