Scores

Final

Mid Tennessee 34

(6-3, 4-1 Sun Belt)

W Kentucky 29

(6-3, 3-2 Sun Belt)

Coverage: ESPNU

9:15 PM ET, November 1, 2012

Smith Stadium, BOWLING GREEN, KY

1 2 3 4 T
MTU 10 7 7 1034
WKU 7 10 7 529

Top Performers

Passing: K. Jakes (WKU) - 283 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: J. Parker (MTU) - 32 CAR, 149 YDS, 1 TD

Receiving: W. McNeal (WKU) - 7 REC, 119 YDS, 1 TD

Middle Tennessee topples Western Kentucky on late kick return TD

Associated Press

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Reggie Whatley's 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter lifted Middle Tennessee to a 34-29 win over Western Kentucky on Thursday night.

With the win, the Blue Raiders (6-3, 4-1 Sun Belt) are now in sole possession of second place in the Sun Belt, trailing first-place Louisiana-Monroe (6-2, 4-0).

Whatley's kick return came with 6:03 left just after Western Kentucky had tied the game at 27 with a field goal.

The Hilltoppers (6-3, 3-2) drove toward the end zone in the closing stages, but the Blue Raiders' Kenneth Gilstrap picked off a Kawaun Jakes pass deep in MTSU territory with two minutes left to seal the win.

Western Kentucky got a safety as time expired.

Freshman Jordan Parker rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown for the Blue Raiders, who became bowl eligible for the first time since 2010.

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Team Stat Comparison

 
MTU
WKU
1st Downs1924
Total Yards342438
Passing118283
Rushing224155
Penalties2-154-30
3rd Down Conversions9-154-11
4th Down Conversions0-23-3
Turnovers02
Possession30:0329:57

Passing Leaders

Middle TennesseeC/ATTYDSAVGTDINT
Kilgore11/171186.920
Western KentuckyC/ATTYDSAVGTDINT
Jakes19/302839.431

Rushing Leaders

Middle TennesseeCARYDSAVGTDLG
Parker321494.7158
Calhoun6416.8016
Western KentuckyCARYDSAVGTDLG
Andrews251365.4016
Jakes5142.8014

Receiving Leaders

Middle TennesseeRECYDSAVGTDLG
Amos56613.2218
Griswould33411.3013
Western KentuckyRECYDSAVGTDLG
McNeal711917.0132
Andrews55410.8124

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTERMTUWKU
FG09:59Carlos Lopez 19 Yd 30
TD06:01Jordan Parker 58 Yd Run (Carlos Lopez Kick) 100
TD02:38Austin Aikens 35 Yd Pass From Kawaun Jakes (Garrett Schwettman Kick) 107
SECOND QUARTERMTUWKU
TD14:28Anthony Amos 8 Yd Pass From Logan Kilgore (Carlos Lopez Kick) 177
TD07:52Antonio Andrews 24 Yd Pass From Kawaun Jakes (Garrett Schwettman Kick) 1714
FG03:50Garrett Schwettman 29 Yd 1717
THIRD QUARTERMTUWKU
TD05:33Anthony Amos 5 Yd Pass From Logan Kilgore (Carlos Lopez Kick) 2417
TD02:03Willie McNeal 32 Yd Pass From Kawaun Jakes (Garrett Schwettman Kick) 2424
FOURTH QUARTERMTUWKU
FG11:00Carlos Lopez 19 Yd 2724
FG06:17Garrett Schwettman 28 Yd 2727
TD06:03Reggie Whatley 96 Yd Kickoff Return (Carlos Lopez Kick) 3427
SF00:00Logan Kilgore Ran Out Of End Zone 3429