Alonzo Harris rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns to lead Louisiana-Lafayette to a 37-20 victory over Western Kentucky on Tuesday night.
Terrance Broadway had a 1-yard TD run and also threw for a score for the Ragin' Cajuns (4-2, 2-0 Sun Belt), who have won four in a row since a 48-27 loss at Kansas State last month. Louisiana-Lafayette had 198 yards rushing in the second half and finished with 254 on the ground for the game.
Antonio Andrews had 28 carries for 154 yards for the Hilltoppers (4-3, 1-2), who led 10-0 after the first quarter. Andrews, who had a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, went over 1,000 yards for the season.
Western Kentucky committed four turnovers, including Al Riles' 99-yard interception return that made it 10-7 with 6:41 left in the second quarter.
Broadway scored late in the third, and then found Jacob Maxwell for a 24-yard TD pass that made it 30-13 with 9:43 remaining in the game.
"When we came out in the second half we got outplayed," Hilltoppers coach Bobby Petrino said. "They were more physical on the offensive front and ran the ball. They took the first drive and went eight minutes and ran the ball and we were sitting over there on the sideline."
Brandon Doughty was 18-for-23 passing for 260 yards and a touchdown for Western Kentucky, which had won three in a row. But Doughty also threw two interceptions and was replaced by sophomore Nelson Fishback in the fourth.
Harris had a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter and capped the scoring with a 2-yarder with 2:37 left.
"We knew they were a running team," Petrino said. "I think what they did was come out in the second half and said they didn't want to give the ball back to our offense. They didn't really stop us in the first half, we stopped ourselves with errors and mistakes."
Original post:
The WKU Hilltoppers host conference-rival Louisiana-Lafayette tonight. It’s the second straight week WKU football will play on a weeknight. Head coach Bobby Petrino says midweek games force an adjustment in the practice schedule, but will pay off in the long run.
“I like doing it. I think it’s a great thing for recruiting and I think it helps us a lot,” said Petrino. “All the recruits watch the midweek games. Last week when we played on Thursday we met as a staff Wednesday night and made a bunch of phone calls and got a ton of kids on the phone to remind them we were playing the next night. I think it’s great and will help us build our program.”
Tonight's game starts at 7:00 p.m. at L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green. It will be broadcast on ESPN2. The Hilltoppers will be looking for their fourth straight win.
