Team Stats
WKU Florida
1st Downs 12 25
Total Yards 206 504
Passing 161 323
Rushing 45 181
Penalties 5-45 7-42
3rd Down Conv. 2-13 4-8
4th Down Conv. 1-12 1-1
Turnovers 0 0
WKU Pasing: Black 10 ATT 13 COMP 105 YDS TD 0 INT 0
Wolke 3 ATT 4 COMP 44 YDS TD 0 INT 0
WKU Rushing: Hayden 11 CAR 32 YDS TD 0 LONG 9 YDS
McCloud 5 CAR 11 YDS TD o LONG 6 YDS Hamilton 2 CAR 11 YDA TD o LONG 6 YDS
WKU Receiving
Gaebler 4 REC 42 YDS td 0 long 19 YDS
Cooper 3 REC 32 YDS TD 0 Long 15 YDS
Hamilton 3 REC 21 YDS TD 0 Long 11 YDS
Quinn 2 REC 47 YDS TD 0 Long 29 YDS
The Hilltoppers opened the season in the Swamp. Florida has a #5-preseason ranking and they definitely lived up to their billing. The Hilltoppers will not play another team this season as talented, fast, and dominating as the Gators. Let there not be any misunderstanding about the coaches’ and players’ desire to win this game. They wanted to win! However, there is no question Florida’s program is at a level that will take WKU a little time to achieve. Make no mistake, with Head Coach David Elson, given time; the Hilltoppers will reach that level. There are several things, WKU can take from the game and build on next week.
OVERALL HIGHLIGHTS
The Hilltoppers took the opening kickoff and drove 62 yards with relative ease. QB David Wolke looked like a veteran instead of a rookie starting his first game as a Hilltopper. I thought it was gutsy of Coach Elson to go for the first down and go for the touchdown instead of settling for a field goal. Unfortunately, the Hilltoppers failed to convert on 4th down and had to turn ball over. The next opportunity to score came just before the half when the Hilltoppers drove for a, #83 Chris James, field goal.
QB K.J. Black, was expected to play, but after Wolke’s performance in the opening drive, watching Black take the field was surprising. Fans found out later that Wolke had sustained an injury and would not return to the game. It would have been interesting to watch WKU offense respond to the Gator score with Wolke at the controls behind center. However, Black did not do a bad job and showed why offensive coaches have held him high regard.
WKU proved it could move the ball all day. #86 Quinterrance Cooper made several good catches along, with #15 Curtis Hamilton, #81 Jessie Quinn, #11 Jake Gaebler and #85 Jamar Jones.
Our offense will not face another defense as big, fast, and talented as what they faced opening day.
Defensively, there is reason for optimism. To say Florida has speed is an understatement. They have an abundance of blazing speed and talent 3 deep in the skill positions. Our defense did an admirable job all day fighting every single down. #53 Dusty Bear, #13 Andre Lewis and #6 Blake Boyd along with the defensive line all put forth great effort to stop the Gator Rushing attack. It was through the air the Gators proved to be so level. We bit on a few fakes and helped them look better then they are but SO DB #9 Rashad Etheridge and the defensive backfield made a few plays that slowed down the Gator attack.
Special Teams look very good. #9 Rashad Etheridge ran the ball hard on kickoffs as well as JR #28 Chris Franklin. Blocking was good and the Hilltoppers pushed the ball up the field. With #83 Chris James kicking the ball out of the end zone the kickoff team will be effective all season. However, when the ball was put into play, the Hilltoppers were on the scene and denied any big plays. #11 Jake Gaebler proved he is a reliable punt returner in traffic and the punt team did not give up a big play. #44 Jeremy Moore has a big leg, can easily handle pressure, and can be trusted to punt the Hilltoppers out of bad field position. The field goal unit did not allow a block and just like clockwork, #83 Chris James was true to form and kick, through the uprights to score a field goal before halftime.
Driving the field and scoring, in the final minutes before halftime, should be a huge confidence builder for the Hilltoppers.
Coach David Elson and his staff did a great job preparing the team for the opener. The Hilltoppers proved they could move the ball against one of the best teams in the nation. Florida has a young defense, granted, but no one all week expected the Toppers to move the ball such as they did. Florida did a good job of bending and not breaking, but Gator fans had to have had a lump in their throat after the opening drive, I know I did.
Overall View
The Hilltoppers fought their guts out but came away on the losing end of the score today. Florida is the type of program that would beat most teams in the country. WKU is in the very early stages of transitioning to the D1 level of competition. The journey is part of the process but anything worth having is worth the price you have to pay for it. In the future, once the transition is completed, Hilltopper fans can look forward to opening the season at home against a quality opponent!
WKU will be just fine.
The Hilltoppers have a great opportunity to bounce back next when West Virginia Tech visits the Hill for the home opener. There is still a lot of football left to play and a lot for the Hilltopper team to play for. One game does not make a season. I expect Hilltopper fans will be celebrating a lot more victories than loses this season!