WKU (1-4, 0-1) at Charlotte (2-3, 1-1)
Saturday, Oct. 13 | Richardson Stadium | 2:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Oct. 13 | Richardson Stadium | 2:30 p.m. CT
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| HILLTOPPERS TRAVEL TO CHARLOTTE FOR FIRST C-USA ROAD GAME Hilltoppers look to get back to winning ways in first-ever trip to Charlotte. |
The Matchup
WKU travels to Charlotte this week for the first-ever matchup between the two schools on Charlotte's campus. The Hilltoppers and 49ers met for the first time in program history last season in Bowling Green.
Under head coach Mike Sanford, the Hilltoppers went 3-1 in the month of October during his inaugural season including victories over UTEP, Charlotte, and Old Dominion.
Since joining Conference USA in 2014, the Hilltoppers are 2-2 in road conference openers and 9-7 overall in c-USA road games.
The Hilltopper roster is void of any players from North Carolina, but a number of players hail from nearby South Carolina including: QB Steven Duncan, OL Gunner Britton, DB LA Rodgers-Anderson, LS Ben Reeder, RB Josh Samuel, and DB Anthony Polite.
How to Watch
The game will be streamed live on ESPN's new premium platform, ESPN+. Fans can register for an account HERE which also includes a seven-day free trial period. Following the trial period, the service is $4.99/month.
A direct link to the game is HERE.
Scouting Charlotte
Charlotte, like WKU, had a bye last week and the game also serves as the 49ers' annual Homecoming Game.
Charlotte is off to a 2-3 start, surpassing last season's win total. Offensively, the 49ers are averaging 34.6 more yards per game than last year, while the defense has held opponents to 110.0 less yards per game.
Offensively, redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Reynolds has been effective in the last three games: 63-of-93 (.677); 692 yards (230.7/gm) with 5 TDs and 1 INT. He threw for a career-high 283 yards and three TDs at UMass. He has thrown for 200+ yards in three games, this season. Versatile junior running back Benny LeMay is third in C-USA in rushing (82.8/gm) and sixth in all-purpose yards (110.0/gm).
2018 Team Captains
WKU's season-long team captains were voted on at the end of fall camp, entirely by the players. In 2018, the Hilltoppers will have just two captains, both from the defense: senior DB DeAndre Farris and junior LB Ben Holt Holt's older brother, Nick, was a 2015 team captain at linebacker and both played for their father, Nick Holt, during his time as WKU's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2013-16.
Holts on The Hill
When Ben Holt was voted a team captain, he and his brother, Nick, joined a very unique and exclusive group as one of just two sets of brothers to both serve as WKU captains.
Elmer (1965) and Lee Murray (1962) also served as captains and for over 50 years were the only sets of brothers to both serve as captains until the Holt's in 2018. Lee enjoyed a Hall of Fame career on The Hill in various roles as an assistant coach under Jimmy Feix and administrator as well as color analyst on WKU's radio broadcasts in the early 2000s.
Within Striking Distance
Through five games, the Hilltoppers have lost three of four by a combined nine points - three point losses in their last three games. WKU has been within striking distance of all three (vs. Maine, at Louisville, vs. Marshall), and they aren't alone in being close to having their records flipped.
Arizona State, Eastern Michigan, Purdue, and WKU are the only teams in the nation to have three-or-more one-score losses.
Defense Getting It Done
Despite WKU's 1-4 record, the Hilltoppers' defensive unit is proving to be as tough to beat as expected in the preseason. The Hilltoppers have held three consecutive opponents to 20 points or less, the first time in program history WKU has held three FBS opponents to 20 or fewer. It's also the first time WKU has held an opponent at their same level - meaning IAA - to that standard in three straight.
WKU last did that in 2004 when they held Eastern Kentucky, Youngstown State, and Northern Iowa to fewer than 20 points.
Youth Movement
WKU is in the midst of a youth movement and rebuilding a roster which lost multiple three- and four-year starters at a number of positions after the 2016 Conference USA Championship season.
Last season, 24 players earned their first career start as Hilltoppers on offense or defense, the fourth-most nationally, and 11 true freshman saw game action. WKU trailed only Ball State (33), Illinois (31), Baylor (27), and Coastal Carolina (25) for the most first-time starters. On the 2018 roster, 66 percent of the roster is comprised of underclassmen.
| CLASS | # ON ROSTER | O/D STARTS |
|---|---|---|
| Seniors | 10 | 90 |
| Juniors | 21 | 86 |
| Sophomores | 27 | 91 |
| Redshirt Freshmen | 10 | 5 |
| True Freshmen | 27 | 0 |
Rebuilding Up Front
WKU's 2018 starting five entering the season was also one of only three offensive lines in the nation to have all five position starters earning their first career starts at their position (UTSA, Fresno State).
LT Cole Spencer started five games at RT to close the 2017 campaign while Tyler Witt started the final six at RG. Both have now swapped to the left side while center Seth Joest and RG Jordan Meredith earned their first career starts at any position at Wisconsin. RT Miles Pate has been primarily a guard during his time on The Hill but bumped outside this fall under the direction of new offensive line coach TJ Woods.
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