WKU HILLTOPPERS (0-1, 0-0 C-USA) at FIU PANTHERS (0-1, 0-0 C-USA)
Saturday, September 7Â | 6Â p.m. CT |Â Riccardo Silva Stadium | Miami, Fla.
Â
Saturday, September 7Â | 6Â p.m. CT |Â Riccardo Silva Stadium | Miami, Fla.
| GAMEDAY LINKS |
| Watch on ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats WKU Game Notes | WKU YouTube Channel |
| WKU FOOTBALL BEGINS THE 2019 CONFERENCE USA SLATE IN MIAMI AGAINST FIU The Hilltoppers and Panthers are both looking for their first win of the season in this Saturday night matchup |
NOTING THE GAME
- Both the Hilltoppers and Panthers opened up their 2019 campaigns with a loss on Thursday, August 29. WKU fell by a score of 35-28 to Central Arkansas at home, while FIU dropped a 42-14 decision in New Orleans, La., to Tulane.
- The Green Wave out-rushed the Panthers by a total of 350-to-59. Although FIU only lost the turnover battle 2-to-1, Tulane won the points-off-turnover battle by a mark of 14-to-0.
- The Hilltoppers held the Bears to only 20 yards rushing – tied for the fourth-fewest allowed by a WKU defense dating back to 2007 – but allowed 404 yards through the air – the 12th-most by a WKU defense dating back to 2007.
- WKU and FIU have played 12 times on the football field since the programs' first meeting in 2002; a 56-7 victory by the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green.
- After back-to-back victories by WKU in 2015 (63-7 in Miami) and 2016 (49-21 in Bowling Green), the Panthers have rattled off back-to-back series wins of their own in 2017 (41-17 in Miami) and 2018 (38-17 in Bowling Green).
- WKU looks to avoid an 0-2 start for the second-consecutive season. Before last year's 0-3 start, the Hilltoppers had not begun a season 0-2 since 2011 (0-4).
GAEJ WALKER SHINES IN RUNNING BACK DEBUT
For the first time since arriving on The Hill in 2016, redshirt junior Gaej Walker got the opportunity to tote the rock as a running back, and he ran with it. The Tampa, Fla., native carried 19 times for 152 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, while also adding a 15-yard reception to total 167 all-purpose yards. That included a 68-yard scoring rush on WKU's first offensive play of the 2019 campaign, and the first offensive touch of Walker's career.
- The 152 yards rushing ranked 10th in FBS, including 3rd among players from Group of Five programs.
- The 167 all-purpose yards ranked 13th in FBS – and led Conference USA – among players who did not record yardage on a kickoff or punt return.
- He was 1-of-65 players in FBS – and only 1-of-7 in C-USA – to score multiple touchdowns.
- His 68-yard rush was the 5th-longest in FBS, and was the longest rush among Conference USA players.
DeANGELO MALONE BEGINS WITH BREAKOUT GAME
Junior defensive end DeAngelo Malone was a problem for the UCA offensive line, as the Atlanta, Ga., native recorded a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, which included a team-high 1.5 sacks. Dating back to last season, Malone has recorded at least 1.0 sack in four-consecutive games, with a total of 5.5 during that stretch. Since the beginning of the 2018 campaign, Malone has racked up 12.5 tackles for loss in 13 games.
STEVEN DUNCAN ECLIPSES 300-YARD MARK
For the first time in his career, redshirt junior quarterback Steven Duncan passed for over 300 yards, completing 26-of-39 attempts for a career-high 304 yards and 1 touchdown, to go along with 2 interceptions. It was the most yards passing by a Hilltopper since Drew Eckels had 347 on Sept. 8, 2018 vs. Maine.
He spread the ball to nine different receivers, including redshirt junior wide receiver Jahcour Pearson, who racked up career-highs of 7 receptions and 68 yards. Junior wide receiver Jacquez Sloan – who returned to action following a season-ending injury on Nov. 2, 2018 – led WKU with 74 yards receiving on five receptions.
JOSHUA SIMON MAKES A SPLASH IN DEBUT GAME
True freshman tight end Joshua Simon caught the lone receiving touchdown from Duncan, a five-yard score at the 6:16 mark of the first quarter. It was the first reception of the Dalzell, S.C., native's career; he would also add a six-yarder and a WKU game-long grab of 42 yards in the fourth quarter to total three receptions for 53 yards.
Â
The 2019 WKU Football season is presented by LifeSkills, a part of your community for the past 50 years. As a non-profit, community mental health center, LifeSkills supports people who experience mental illness, addictions and developmental disabilities as they build meaningful and independent lives. With the widest array of services for both adults and children in south central Kentucky, LifeSkills gives you greater choice, easy access, and proven quality. When it comes to your health, experience matters.
