The
second upset in a week for a Sun Belt Conference team, first it was ULM in
overtime at Arkansas and now Western Kentucky at Kentucky. This overtime wins
proves that the teams are challenged to win with dedication on the field and
from the coaches. Two teams that was projected to not be at what many was
thinking, is making big statements to prove them wrong.
Kentucky's
stunning loss to Western Kentucky, coupled with its season-opening loss to
Louisville, has put Joker Phillips and the Wildcats on the defensive.
The
coach declined to say what he told his team following Saturday's setback.
"That's
our business," Phillips said. "Again, we give credit to Western
Kentucky but what we say in our locker room is our business."
Taggart
dug into his bag of tricks on a two-point conversion.
The
Hilltoppers (2-1) went for the win after Antonio Andrews pulled them
within a point on a 2-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Kawaun Jakes threw
a lateral to Andrews, who threw back to Jakes to clinch the victory.
The
defeat ended a 19-game winning streak for Kentucky over opponents from outside
Bowl Championship Series conferences, dating back to a 28-16 loss to Ohio on
Oct. 2, 2004.
The
announced crowd of 53,980 Saturday night was the smallest since the final home
game of the 2006 season and slightly larger than the 48,346 who showed up for
the Wildcats' 2012 home opener against Kent State. That was the smallest home
crowd since the 1996 finale.
After
Western Kentucky staged a wild celebration on the field at the end the game,
Taggart took a swipe at Kentucky's program.
"WKU
red is the new blue," he said.
The
win was the second in as many weeks for a Sun Belt team over a school from the
powerful SEC. Louisiana-Monroe upset then-No. 8 Arkansas in Fayetteville on
Sept. 8 and nearly did the same to Auburn earlier Saturday. The loss was
Kentucky's second to an in-state foe this season, as the Wildcats were
shellacked 32-14 by Louisville in the season opener.
The
Hilltoppers dominated early. They raced out to a 17-0 first-half lead,
intercepting Kentucky's Maxwell Smith three times -- the sophomore quarterback
would add another later. Smith did lead Kentucky on a 77-yard scoring drive
that culminated in a 22-yard, game-tying touchdown pass to wide receiver DeMarcus
Sweat.
Jakes
completed 16 of 20 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown and Andrews rushed 34
times for 123 yards and three scores to lead the Hilltoppers' upset victory.
Smith
entered the game ranked 24th nationally in total offense but struggled from the
outset before coming to life late, completing 37 of 60 passes for 332 yards
with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Smith came in having not thrown an
interception in 89 pass attempts.
The Hilltoppers has improved to 2-1 this season and marching on to another most improved season. Way to go Western Kentucky.
