Despite a herculean performance from the WKU defense, WKU Football fell to LSU 13-10 in a low-scoring battle at Tiger Stadium. The WKU defense showed up on the biggest stage, holding the LSU offense to just 13 points and 328 yards of offense. The unit combined for 86 tackles in the game, and 42 solo tackles. “A lot of great individual efforts on the defensive side, guys were making great tackles,” Head Coach Tyson Helton said. “We didn’t tackle as well [against Middle Tennessee State], and that was a point of emphasis for us.” Senior linebacker Jaylen Wester and junior defensive back Jaylen Lewis were everywhere on the defensive side, combining for 32 tackles and 16 solo tackles. “I was just doing my job at a high level, and trusting my brothers to do their job,” Wester said. “That’s the main thing we preached this week, doing our job at a high level.” Sophomore defensive end Harper Holloman grabbed an interception against LSU sophomore quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. early in the second quarter, setting the Hilltoppers up in Tiger territory. A forced fumble by freshman linebacker Jordan Donald gave the Hilltoppers life late in the fourth quarter, as defensive back Dylan Flowers made a play and returned the fumble for a touchdown. The Tigers would recover the ensuing onside kick, though, holding on. The WKU offense wasn’t able to take advantage, missing several opportunities to take the lead, ending the night with five three-and-outs. Even when in Tiger territory, the Hilltoppers couldn’t capitalize, scoring just three points in their four opportunities beyond the midfield line. The Hilltoppers missed a chance to take a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter after freshman quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. dropped a wide-open pass from freshman running back Marvis Parrish in the end zone on third down. The Hilltoppers would be stopped on the ensuing play at the LSU 4-yard line, turning the ball over on downs. “We got stopped there at the goal line, fourth and four, wish we would have scored, there would have been a whole different outcome if that had happened,” Helton said. “(On fourth down) we got to try and go for it. Three points in a game like this wasn’t going to get it done.” After the Hilltoppers’ opening drive of 57 yards, which ended in a field goal, the offense would gain just 95 yards for the rest of the game. This was the biggest game of Tisdale Jr.’s early career, despite passing for 35 yards on 4-5 completions. Ultimately, Tisdale Jr. ended with 128 yards with two interceptions and several potential interceptions. The Hilltopper offense was helped by several LSU defensive penalties, including multiple on the Hilltoppers’ best drive of the night, which ended at the LSU 4-yard line. The Tigers finished with 9 penalties for 69 yards. Both offenses struggled in this defensive battle, combining for 14 punts in the game. Next up for the Hilltoppers is a winner-take-all battle with Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Alabama, with a spot in the CUSA championship game on the line. Kickoff is set for 1 p. m. CT.
https://wkuherald.com/89152/sports/hilltoppers-fall-short-in-tight-game-at-lsu/
