Recap and Bowl Info: WKU vs. ULL
After being left out of a bowl game at 7-5 last season, are the Hilltoppers doomed to a repeat in 2012? Check out our bowl eligibility tracker HERE.
Another close game, another close loss for Western Kentucky (6-5, 3-4 Sun Belt) Saturday night, this one at the hands of Louisiana-Lafayette (6-4, 4-2 Sun Belt).
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The Hilltoppers led 27-17 late in the 4th quarter, before ULL scored two touchdowns in the final 2:43 to escape with a 31-27 victory.
After a WKU 13-yard Antonio Andrews touchdown run put the Toppers up 10 with under 6:00 to play, ULL answered with an 11 play, 72-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Rajun Cajun' quarterback Terrance Broadway to Jamal Robinson with 2:42 to go.
ULL attempted an onside kick on the following play, but it was recovered by Toppers receiver Austin Aikens at the WKU 48-yard line.
Needing only a couple of first downs to put the game away, WKU went three-and-out on three straight rushes by Andrews, leaving the Toppers facing a 4th-and-1 at the ULL 43-yard line.
Instead of going for it on 4th down, WKU head coach Willie Taggart elected to punt, which was downed by ULL at their own 7-yard line.
With no timeouts left, ULL managed to drive 93 yards in only 54 seconds on 8 plays, capped by a Broadway 14-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw.
A 23-yard catch by receiver Harry Peoples on 3rd-and-4, and a 15-yard late hit penalty on WKU defensive tackle Jamarcus Allen helped extend the game-winning drive for the Rajun Cajuns'.
Down 31-27, WKU attempted a Hail Mary pass on the last play to Jonathan Dowling, who caught it in the endzone but was ruled barely out-of-bounds.
There was no referee review on the play.
Andrews led the Toppers with 238 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries.
Quarterback Kawaun Jakes finished 10-for-18 passing for 149 yards and one interception.
Falling to 6-5 overall, the Hilltoppers have one game left on the schedule, a home tilt on Nov. 24 vs. North Texas (4-7 overall).
After being left out of a bowl game at 7-5 last season, are the Hilltoppers doomed to a repeat in 2012? Check out our bowl eligibility tracker HERE.