WKU had its first home game of the 2022 season today and it went how they wanted it to go. The final score was 38-27 in favor of the Hilltoppers, but Austin Peay wasn't expected to end the game this close and they actually played a good, solid game.

Both teams started pretty sluggish, but momentum shifted between the teams numerous times. WKU's offense has high expectations coming in to this year based off the success of last season, but it took some time to get it going at the level of their expectations.

Austin Reed showed plenty in his Hilltopper debut that should have fans excited for the rest of the season. "We didn't play our best football in the first half," said Reed. "We came out in the second half and kind of turned it up a little bit, fought through the rain and we just started making the plays that we were missing on a little bit in the first half."

Creating turnovers was a big key to success for WKU today. They caused four in today's game (2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries) and each of them were crucial for a win. WKU used their veteran experience to pull this one out at home and they look to continue to build off this win for next week.

After a slow and shaky start in the opening half from WKU, they finally started to put some good drives together on offense and got some big stops on defense. Each time WKU tried to pull away, Austin Peay had an answer for them. WKU quarterback Austin Reed showed some nice flashes in the first half with two touchdown passes to wide receiver Malachi Corley, who is fitting nicely in his increased role this season. Although the Hilltoppers didn't have a great half defensively, safety Upton Stout made a great break on the ball to set up an easy pick-six to put WKU's first half point total to 21.

"It just came off of film study," said Stout. "I kept seeing that play every time he motioned in. I guess the receiver ran a go route, but I knew it was gonna be a stop route, because the quarterback set his feet fast."

Austin Peay produced some solid drives down the stretch. Quarterback Mike Diliello was making plays for Austin Peay and he's a large reason why the game was close.

Besides his two interceptions, Diliello had one passing touchdown that went for 44 yards down the field and he also had one touchdown on the ground just before halftime ended. Diliello rushed for 47 yards on 13 attempts, with his longest rush going for 20 yards.

Austin Peay's first half defense played well, making it hard for WKU to get into a real rhythm. They got just enough stops to make it an interesting ball game and be in a good position going into the half.

The third quarter was lackluster for both teams as WKU went scoreless while Austin Peay put up three points on a Maddux Trujillo 49-yard field goal at the 8:19 mark to cut the Hilltoppers' lead to 21-20 entering the final stanza.

The Hilltoppers opened the fourth quarter with a bang. Wide receiver Malachi Corley played exceptionally well all day as he caught his third receiving touchdown of the day, a 25-yard strike from Reed, to put the Hilltoppers up 28-20.

Corley finished with five catches for 61 yards and three scores. A performance like that earned Corley his first ever game ball and he knew he'd get one eventually.

"It was a great feeling," said Corley. "I finally got one. I prayed for times like this. I prayed all night and all morning for it and I came out here and put it on tape."

WKU finally woke up in the fourth as every aspect of their game was better. Austin Peay fumbled the ball near midfield and the Hilltoppers took full advantage, taking over at the 49-yard line.

They then followed that up with a 48-yard bomb from Reed to wide receiver Daewood Davis to stretch the Hilltoppers' lead to 35-20 with 11:34 remaining. Davis had a banner day of his own, finishing with six catches for 124 yards and one score.

However, the Governors kept on fighting back. Quarterback Mike Diliello threw a 24-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Drae McCray. His score cut the WKU lead to eight points, 35-27 with 8:09 remaining in the game.

McCray had a good day, recording 90 yards on six catches, and two receiving touchdowns.

A Brayden Narveson 23-yard field goal with 3:18 remaining put WKU up two scores, 38-27. Austin Peay fumbled the ball on a kick return, essentially ending any hope they had of winning the game and securing a Western Kentucky win.

Austin Reed finished 20-for-34 for 280 yards and four touchdowns against one interception. JaQues Evans led WKU in tackles with 13 while Juwuan Jones tallied 10 tackles.

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