Western Kentucky Defeat Middle Tennessee To Close Regular Season

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders...When these two teams get together, it’s rarely boring, is it?

The rivalry known as “100 Miles of Hate” once again provided plenty of excitement. The Tops won Saturday’s game by a score of 31-26.

MTSU led 20-17 at the start of the fourth quarter. WKU took the lead halfway through the period when MTSU turned the ball over on downs in Blue Raider territory. It took Ty Storey just two passes to Quin Jernighan to score and take a 24-20 lead from there.

MTSU fumbled on their next possession, setting up another touchdown drive for the Tops, which made it 31-20. The Blue Raiders bounced back on the following possession with a 12-play, 78-yard drive that ended in a touchdown, but the two-point conversion attempt failed and just 43 seconds were left on the clock. WKU recovered the onside kick to close the game out.

Photo by Steve Roberts/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

MTSU quarterback Asher O’Hara finished the day 18 of 33 with 301 passing yards, three TDs, and an interception. He also ran for 144 yards on 29 attempts. His rushing total for the year ends at 1,044 yards on 199 attempts. The last time a C-USA QB ended a season with over 1,000 rushing yards was in 2009 when Joe Webb did it at UAB.

WKU running back Gaej Walker ran for 119 yards and a touchdown. He ends the regular season with 1,115 rushing yards, which is the third highest total in C-USA.

Ty Storey wrapped up the day with two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. The grad student ends the regular season with 20 total touchdowns (12 passing, 7 rushing, and one receiving).

MTSU finish the season 4-8 and fifth in C-USA East. WKU finish the regular season 8-4 and third in the division. The Tops also now await their placement in a bowl game.