Big plays send Western Kentucky past UTSA on Saturday, 45-7Big plays send Western Kentucky past UTSA on Saturday, 45-7
Football

Big plays send Western Kentucky past UTSA on Saturday, 45-7

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Western Kentucky used a pair of big plays in the first quarter to jump out to an early lead and the Hilltoppers cruised to a 45-7 victory on Saturday at Houchen Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

Brandon Doughty connected on scoring passes of 54 and 47 yards to Leon Allen and Taywan Taylor on two of WKU's first three possessions of the day to give the Hilltoppers (6-5, 3-4 C-USA) a 14-0 lead with 4:22 left in the opening stanza.

The game remained that way for the next 15 minutes when Doughty found Willie McNeal streaking down the field for a 67-yard touchdown. Bennett Okotcha had blanket coverage and even tipped the ball away, but McNeal was able to come up with it and he raced to the end zone to put Western Kentucky in front by 21.

The Hilltoppers scored right before halftime when Doughty connected with Jared Dangerfield for 13 yards and they took a commanding 28-0 advantage into the locker room.

Doughty's fifth TD pass of the day and second to Dangerfield came from 16 yards out with 8:10 to go in the third quarter and Garrett Schwettman's 34-yard field goal with 11:59 remaining in the contest made it 38-0.

The Roadrunners (3-8, 2-5 C-USA) broke the shutout with 8:49 left when Dalton Sturm threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Thomas Jr.

Demetrius Coley's 2-yard scoring run late in the final quarter capped the scoring.

Doughty finished the day 26-of-35 for 346 yards and five TDs, while Allen rushed for 68 on 14 carries in addition to catching three passes for 65 yards. McNeal added a game-high seven receptions for 105 yards.

Austin Robinson completed 8-of-20 throws for 60 yards for UTSA and he added another 50 on the ground on 10 rushes before leaving late in the third quarter with an injury.

Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist Triston Wade led the Roadrunners with seven tackles.

UTSA will wrap up its fourth season of play next Saturday, Nov. 29, against North Texas (3-7, 1-5 C-USA). Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Alamodome.