Written by Adrian Beecher
Boca Raton, FL- Anthony Wales' 144 yards rushing and quarterback Mike Whites 184 yards and two TD passes has the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers up on the Memphis Tigers 28-17 at the half of the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl. Here is the full halftime recap from the Boca Bowl.
Both teams opening possessions ended quickly on 3 nd outs. After WKU’s opening possession, they had a bad punt that gave the Tigers the ball 1st and 10 at their own 35 yard line. Memphis was able to take advantage of the great field position and strike fast. They capped off a 5-play 65-yard drive with a 45-yard td pass from Riley Ferguson to Tony Pollard to make it 7-0 with 10:43 left in the 1st quarter.
The Hilltoppers weren’t going to go quietly into the night and immediately joined the party answering on their ensuing possession. Led by QB Mike White, WKU went 75 yards in 8 plays as White found Stevie Donatell for the 4 yard TD connection to tie this one up with 7:42 left in the 1st.
Memphis’ Ferguson then quickly led his team down field. However after getting into the red zone their drive stalled and they had to settle for a 33-yard field goal from Jake Elliott.
Mike White then once again led the Hilltoppers down field, this time on their longest drive of the day. It was an 8 play 78 yard drive that was capped off on a backwards pass from White to Forrest lamp, who then ran it in from 9 yards out to put Western Kentucky back on top 14-10 with 1:47 left in the 1st quarter.
On Memphis’ next possession, WKU linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe went in for a tackle in the back field on a pass out to the flat and had helmet to helmet contact that was called as a targeting, ending Joel’s day. This made it 1st and 10 Memphis at their own 45-yard line.
As we roll into the 2nd quarter, Memphis’ first drive of the quarter stalled out and they had to settle for another Jake Eliot field goal. This time it was from 45 yards out, however Elliot’s attempt hit the left upright and bounced back onto the field. This gave the ball back to the Hilltoppers setting them up at their own 26-yard line.
Memphis’ lack of ability to move the ball after getting to their own 30-yard line started to set them back. After the missed field goal, it took WKU just 6 plays to go 74 yards as White connected with Nicholas Norris for the 37 yard TD connection to put the Hilltoppers up 21-10 with 11:59 left in the half.
After struggling to move the ball inside their opponent’s 30-yard line, Memphis was able to strike into the end zone from the red zone on their ensuing possession. It was on a 7-yard TD pass from Ferguson to Anthony Miller to make it 21-17.
WKU’s offensive success continued on their next drive as they scored their 4th consecutive touchdown. This time it came on a 2 yard run from Anthony Wales to extend the Hilltoppers lead to 11 with 2:16 left in the 1st half.
The Tigers next possession ended in a punt, this gave the Hilltoppers possession at their own 15-yard line and they lined up for a QB kneel. Much to the surprise of the Memphis defense, the Hilltoppers faked the snap and Anthony Wales takes a direct snap and ran for 53 yards to make it 1st and 10 at the Memphis 32 yard line. On the next play Mike White threw to the endzone and was picked off by Dontrell Nelson. Memphis would take a sack on their first play from scrimmage, sending us into the half with WKU up 28-17.
Both teams opening possessions ended quickly on 3 nd outs. After WKU’s opening possession, they had a bad punt that gave the Tigers the ball 1st and 10 at their own 35 yard line. Memphis was able to take advantage of the great field position and strike fast. They capped off a 5-play 65-yard drive with a 45-yard td pass from Riley Ferguson to Tony Pollard to make it 7-0 with 10:43 left in the 1st quarter.
The Hilltoppers weren’t going to go quietly into the night and immediately joined the party answering on their ensuing possession. Led by QB Mike White, WKU went 75 yards in 8 plays as White found Stevie Donatell for the 4 yard TD connection to tie this one up with 7:42 left in the 1st.
Memphis’ Ferguson then quickly led his team down field. However after getting into the red zone their drive stalled and they had to settle for a 33-yard field goal from Jake Elliott.
Mike White then once again led the Hilltoppers down field, this time on their longest drive of the day. It was an 8 play 78 yard drive that was capped off on a backwards pass from White to Forrest lamp, who then ran it in from 9 yards out to put Western Kentucky back on top 14-10 with 1:47 left in the 1st quarter.
On Memphis’ next possession, WKU linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe went in for a tackle in the back field on a pass out to the flat and had helmet to helmet contact that was called as a targeting, ending Joel’s day. This made it 1st and 10 Memphis at their own 45-yard line.
As we roll into the 2nd quarter, Memphis’ first drive of the quarter stalled out and they had to settle for another Jake Eliot field goal. This time it was from 45 yards out, however Elliot’s attempt hit the left upright and bounced back onto the field. This gave the ball back to the Hilltoppers setting them up at their own 26-yard line.
Memphis’ lack of ability to move the ball after getting to their own 30-yard line started to set them back. After the missed field goal, it took WKU just 6 plays to go 74 yards as White connected with Nicholas Norris for the 37 yard TD connection to put the Hilltoppers up 21-10 with 11:59 left in the half.
After struggling to move the ball inside their opponent’s 30-yard line, Memphis was able to strike into the end zone from the red zone on their ensuing possession. It was on a 7-yard TD pass from Ferguson to Anthony Miller to make it 21-17.
WKU’s offensive success continued on their next drive as they scored their 4th consecutive touchdown. This time it came on a 2 yard run from Anthony Wales to extend the Hilltoppers lead to 11 with 2:16 left in the 1st half.
The Tigers next possession ended in a punt, this gave the Hilltoppers possession at their own 15-yard line and they lined up for a QB kneel. Much to the surprise of the Memphis defense, the Hilltoppers faked the snap and Anthony Wales takes a direct snap and ran for 53 yards to make it 1st and 10 at the Memphis 32 yard line. On the next play Mike White threw to the endzone and was picked off by Dontrell Nelson. Memphis would take a sack on their first play from scrimmage, sending us into the half with WKU up 28-17.