DALLAS, Texas – WKU Football redshirt junior safety Devon Key and graduate senior quarterback Ty Storey were each named Conference USA Players of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
Key was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week, while Storey was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, with both Hilltoppers making key contributions in the team's 45-19 blowout victory over SEC opponent Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Razorback Stadium. Key is WKU's second C-USA Defensive Player of the Week this season (linebacker Kyle Bailey on Sept. 30), while Storey is the Hilltoppers' first C-USA Offensive Player of the Week since Nov. 20, 2017 (quarterback Mike White).
Key returned his fifth career interception for a 25-yard pick six, while tying for the WKU lead with seven tackles. The Hilltopper defense held Arkansas to only 87 yards passing (9-of-26 with zero touchdowns and two interceptions), it was the fewest by the Razorbacks since they had 61 on Sept. 9, 2014, at Texas Tech. Removing touchdown rushes of 86 and 76 yards by Arkansas running back Rakeem Boyd, WKU held the Razorbacks to only 178 total yards of offense on 52 plays (3.4 yards per play).
Storey took advantage of one of the most unique opportunities in college football this season, as the graduate transfer returned to his former school and led the Hilltoppers to a signature win. He completed 22-of-32 passes for 213 yards and a 69-yard touchdown, while also rushing 17 times for 77 yards and two touchdowns; all career highs in the ground game. The WKU signal-caller completed 68.8% of his passes, marking the sixth consecutive game in which he has completed at least 68% of his attempts. Of his 213 yards passing, Storey had 202 of those in the first half, when the Hilltoppers built a 35-7 lead and cruised to victory in the second frame.
This marks the first time since Oct. 8, 2018 (Middle Tennessee quarterback Brent Stockstill and safety Jovante Moffatt) that a C-USA team has earned both Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, a span of 17 weeks in-between.
The Hilltoppers (6-4, 4-2 C-USA) are idle in Week 12 after their win at Arkansas. WKU's next game will be on Saturday, Nov. 23, when the team travels to Hattiesburg, Miss. to face Southern Miss (6-3, 4-1 C-USA) for a 2:30 p.m. CT kick off.
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