Story by
Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
Delaware too much for WKU, 35-21
- Story byMessenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
- Delaware too much for WKU, 35-21
BOWLING GREEN — Western Kentucky's defense had no answer for senior quarterback Nick Minicucci on Tuesday night, and the result was a rare road victory for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.
Minicucci — the preseason Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year — completed 32 of 38 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns to lift Delaware to a 35-21 victory over the Hilltoppers before 12,147 fans in a nationally televised game at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
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Delaware, which had won just one of its previous 11 road games, improved to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in CUSA, while WKU — which had won 15 of its previous 17 home games — tumbled to 3-5 overall and 2-2 within the league.
"Their quarterback is a very, very good football player," WKU head coach Tyson Helton said of Minicucci. "He made some really accurate throws against tight coverage — he made the plays he needed to make to put his team in a position to win the game.
"I'm disappointed with our turnovers in the second half. We moved the ball down the field well and had opportunities to score, but we couldn't get the football in the end zone. We didn't capitalize on our chances, and that was disappointing."
The first half was a wild, high-scoring affair.
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Brock Glenn was 5 of 5 through the air as Western marched 75 yards in eight plays for the first of three touchdowns in the half — a 3-yard TD pass to tight end CC Ezirim that made it 7-0 Hilltoppers at the 11:30 mark of the first period.
Delaware came right back with an impressive scoring march of its down. Minicucci connected with running back Kaderis Roberts for a 17-yard scoring toss to cap a nine-play, 82-yard drive that pulled the Blue Hens even at the 6:43 mark.
WKU bounced right back, needing only six plays to drive 75 yards to paydirt. A 45-completion from Glenn to Moussa Barry set up Zion Taylor's 1-yard touchdown plunge that put the Hilltoppers on top 14-7 at 3:41 of the first.
The Blue Hens responded in kind, however — driving 78 yards in eight plays and pulling into a 14-all tie on Minicucci's 21-yard TD pass to Sean Wilson at 12:42 of the second quarter.
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Western regained the lead on its ensuing possession when Glenn broke loose for a 61-yard keeper that set the stage for Ajay Allen's 5-yard scoring jaunt that made it 21-14 Tops at 10:52.
After that, though, Delaware dominated the remainder of the half.
The Blue Hens pulled even again at 7:25 when Viron Ellison scored on a 5-yard run, and the visitors took their first lead of the game just 59 seconds before intermission when Silver caught an 8-yard scoring pass from Minicucci to provide Delaware a 28-21 halftime advantage.
Minicucci was unstoppable throughout the half, setting a Delaware program record by completing his first 17 passes of the game. He finished the half 21 of 22 for 301 yards and three TDs.
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Matters went from bad to worse for the Hilltoppers late in the third period when Minicucci connected with Wilson on a 60-yard bomb for a touchdown that pushed the Blue Hens in front by two touchdowns. It proved to be the only score of a defense-dominated second half.
Delaware finished with 496 yards of total offense. In addition to Minicucci's heroics, Allen caught nine passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
Western rolled up 477 yards of total offense. Glenn completed 25 of 37 for 224 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Glenn, who left the contest after being shaken up late in the fourth quarter, also led the Hilltoppers in rushing with 129 yards.
WKU, now in serious jeopardy of missing a postseason bowl for the first time in Helton's eight-season tenure on the Hill, visits much-improved '100 Yards of Hate' rival Middle Tennessee on Nov. 7.
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"We'll turn the page on this one and get geared up for Middle Tennessee," Helton said. "This is a rivalry game, and we need to be clicking on all cylinders to go get that win.
"There's still a lot of football to be played, and a lot of things can happen — we need to go make the most of it."
