TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – WKU Football dropped its season opener against No. 5 Alabama 63-0 on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Hilltoppers (0-1) were hurt by two early turnovers that the Crimson Tide (1-0) turned into touchdowns, before Alabama added a quick strike to take a 21-0 lead into the second quarter. Alabama doubled its lead to 42-0 by halftime, and added 14 points in the third quarter and a touchdown in the fourth to close out the 63-0 decision.
NOTABLES
- Attendance for the game was 100,077, marking the fifth-highest attendance ever for a game that WKU has played in. Three of the top five attendances have come against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
- Moussa Barry posted a career-high four catches. He finished with 27 receiving yards.
- Cole Maynard averaged 44.8 yards per punt on nine punts, with three traveling over 50 yards, including a long of 54 yards.
- Hosea Wheeler recorded a sack and forced fumble in the first quarter. It was his second career forced fumble, with the other at No. 6/4 Ohio State during the 2023 season.
- Nazir Ward led the Hilltoppers with five tackles, which marked a career high for the sophomore cornerback.
QUOTABLE
- “Really good football team we played tonight in the University of Alabama. I tell you, they did everything you’re supposed to do. They’re a big, physical football team. They played well. They were very cohesive with what they did. They got after us pretty good, so hat’s off to them. They’re 1-0. They’ve got a great staff, great team and I expect great things out of them this year. I think they’re going to really challenge a lot of people. As far as our football team, at times I thought we did some good things. I thought we moved the ball well, pretty good in the first half. Obviously the turnovers cost us with the interceptions. Defensively, we had way too many explosive plays, as we all know, in the first half. Defense settled down a little bit in the second half and started to find their groove a little bit. Offensively, we just couldn’t get going in the second half. Good football team we played, and, man, I’m looking forward to watching those guys play the rest of the year.” – WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton, on the loss to No. 5 Alabama.
- “It’s something you learn to do as an athlete. Tough losses like this, you learn to just wipe them out and focus on the next week.” – WKU wide receiver Easton Messer, on being ready for next week’s game against EKU.
- “During the week, we focused on eat, just be physical, attack and it’s all-out effort. Just go and attack the ball, and I think that’s what we did tonight. Even though we came up short, I feel like we played with good effort the whole game. I’m proud of our defense.” – WKU defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler, on WKU’s defensive effort.
NEXT UP
- The Hilltoppers will host Eastern Kentucky (0-1) for the home opener at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7. It will be WKU’s white out game, and Hilltopper fans are encouraged to wear white to the game.
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