IRVING, Texas – After moving to 2-0 with the win over Louisiana Tech, WKU swept the three Sept. 14 Conference USA Player of the Week awards as quarterback Brandon Doughty, specialist Kylen Towner and safety Marcus Ward were honored.
WKU became the first team to sweep the football weekly honors since Tulane had three players honored on Oct. 14, 2013.
Doughty threw for 441 yards and a touchdown on 28-38 passing to earn the Offensive Player of the Week award. The touchdown toss on the opening drive of the game extended his streak of throwing at least one touchdown pass to 16 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in the nation. This marks the fifth time Doughty claimed the award after leading C-USA in 2014 as a four-time recipient.
Towner was tabbed the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career after he became one of just 12 players in the FBS to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season. His 98-yard return for a score was good for the sixth-longest in school history and longest since the 2001 season. Towner was also electric in the punting game as he returned a Bulldogs' punt for a career-long 32 yards.
Ward put on a career performance for the WKU defense as he set numerous career-highs, racking up 11 tackles (six solo) and adding two tackles for loss and two pass breakups, all career bests. The double-digit performance in tackles was the first of his career. The junior also jarred the ball loose from Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon with a big hit that was recovered by the Hilltoppers. The C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honor is the first of his career.
