LYNCHBURG, Va. – WKU Football lost to Liberty 38-21 on Saturday at Williams Stadium.
The Hilltoppers fall to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in Conference USA play with the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless first quarter, the Hilltoppers found the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 13:17 remaining in the second quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Caden Veltkamp to Dalvin Smith.
- Liberty scored three unanswered touchdowns to end the first half, starting with a 2-yard run with 9:30 to play in the second quarter to make it 7-7.
- The Flames added a 22-yard run with 2:05 to play in the first half to take their first lead of the game, 14-7.
- Liberty scored with 10 seconds to play in the second quarter on an 11-yard pass to go ahead 21-7 at the break.
- WKU cut into the deficit on the first possession of the second half, scoring on a 2-yard run from George Hart III to make it 21-14. The touchdown was set up by a 32-yard pass to Kisean Johnson and an 18-yard pass to Easton Messer.
- Liberty extended its lead to 28-14 with 9:44 to play in the third with a 2-yard touchdown run.
- Veltkamp connected with Johnson for a 16-yard touchdown with 3:44 remaining in the third to make it a one-score game, 28-21.
- Liberty made a 29-yard field goal with 11:13 to play to extend its lead to 31-21.
- The Flames capped off the win with a 3-yard touchdown run with 2:59 to play, making it 38-21.
NOTABLES
- WKU's captains for the game were defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler, defensive lineman Dallas Walker and wide receiver Kisean Johnson.
- Announced attendance at Williams Stadium was 17,930.
- WKU falls to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in CUSA with the loss.
- The Hilltoppers fall to 0-5 all-time against Liberty with the loss.
- WKU recorded 368 yards in the loss, with 262 through the air and 106 on the ground.
- Quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns on 20-34-3 passing. Veltkamp's seventh game of the season throwing multiple touchdown passes.
- Elijah Young led WKU on the ground with 60 yards on nine rushing attempts, and added 26 yards on three receptions.
- Six different WKU players caught passes in the loss, with four catching multiple passes. Kisean Johnson led WKU receivers with 94 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
- Dalvin Smith's second quarter touchdown was the 20th touchdown reception of his career, which puts him in sole possession of seventh place on WKU's record list for career touchdown receptions.
- 18 Hilltoppers recorded multiple tackles, led by a career-high 16 from Devonte' Mathews, who also forced a fumble. Upton Stout also recorded double-digit tackles, finishing with 10.
- The WKU defense didn't allow Liberty to complete a pass during the first quarter.
- Kent Robinson's had the only sack in the game. WKU's defense had five tackles for loss, with a team-high two coming from Kylan Guidry.
QUOTABLES
- "Hats off to Liberty. They got the best of us today. Had a lot of opportunities, especially in the first half. It's going to be hard with three turnovers in the first half. We moved the ball well. Defensively, they controlled the line of scrimmage by far and they ran it pretty good against us. We had a hard time stopping them today. Regroup and we'll get to come home and play Jacksonville State and try to put our best football together and try to get a win." – WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton, on Saturday's loss at Liberty.
NEXT UP
- The Hilltoppers will close out the regular season at home and celebrate senior day against Jax State on Saturday, Nov. 30. Kickoff at Houchens-Smith Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU. With Saturday's results, WKU will need a win over the Gamecocks and a Sam Houston win over Liberty next week to earn a berth in the CUSA Championship game.
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