The Hilltoppers’ final full scrimmage of fall camp will begin at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) at Smith Stadium, with the team remaining on the field to greet fans afterwards. The Red-White Game will be played with a regulation clock in the first half and a running clock after halftime, with Western’s offense pitted against the defense.
“It is a test, but we also want to go through our game day routine and have all of our guys get used to what next Thursday night is going to be like,” WKU head coach David Elson said. “On the field, I want to see the team come out ready to play. They have plenty of time to rest and recover, and get geared up for a game-type situation.”
As camp is wrapping up and the team begins to prepare for its regular-season opener on Thursday, Sept. 1, against West Virginia Tech, Elson feels that the Hilltoppers have picked up the schemes he and his staff have been teaching since Aug. 8. “We really have a good grasp of what we’re doing, now we have to do it underneath the lights, when there are people around and other potential distractions.”
Several starting spots are still up for grabs as Western enters what Elson has called the “final evaluation” before the Toppers’ regular-season debut. Johnathan Carter, Jon Hedges, Andre Lewis and newcomer Jenkins Reese are competing for the two starting slots at inside linebacker in WKU’s 3-4 defensive alignment, while Scott Greschel, Brandon Mason and Bo Smith have been in a battle for the opening at strong safety. On offense, Brandon Fitzgerald and Jared Johnson are in position to start at fullback with Ross Cassity limited in camp by injury.
A positive for the Hilltoppers as camp nears an end is that the group that Elson and his staff sees as the primary players who are likely to start have not been hindered with injuries the last few weeks. Several projected backups have missed time and may have to sit out Wednesday’s scrimmage.
Kickoff in the season opener against WVU Tech is set for 6:30 p.m. at Smith Stadium.
