Western Kentucky Runs Past Football

Saturday, November 15

Bowling Green, Ky.

12:00 PM

Army West Point

3-7

Western Kentucky

5-5 , 2-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Army

WKU

Western Kentucky Runs Past Football

November 15, 2014 | Football

Box Score

Nov. 15, 2014

Watch Highlights: Army at Western Kentucky

Postgame Notes

Final Stats

Final Stats (pdf)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Leon Allen ran for 345 yards and Western Kentucky compiled 561 yards of total offense in a 52-24 win over Army on Saturday afternoon at Houchens Industries-L. T. Smith Stadium.

The Hilltoppers took advantage of a number of big plays and capitalized on fortunate bounces and Army mistakes to improve to 5-5 on the season. The Black Knights dropped to 3-7 in 2014.

Army's ground game was led by Larry Dixon's 115 yards as he surpassed the 100-yard mark for the 10th time in his career. Quarterback Angel Santiago had 78 yards and a pair of rushing scores, while throwing for 40 yards. Matt Giachinta set new career standards with 13 carries and 63 yards from his fullback position.

On defense Jeremy Timpf's 10 tackles were a team best and Andrew King had a sack of Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty.

Doughty was 16-of-25 through the air for 178 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target was Jared Dangerfield, who hauled in seven passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Army forced Western Kentucky's high-powered offense to a punt on the opening possession and began its first drive with decent field position on the 36-yard line. A pair of third-down conversions moved the chains. A pass to Edgar Poe when Santiago threw back across the middle for a gain of 14 and Giachinta's counter run for 15 yards on third and nine, down to the Western Kentucky 33. Then, a play-action pass from Santiago to Joe Walker went for 14 yards into the redzone and Giachinta carried again to set up first and goal for the Black Knights. Three plays later Santiago crossed the plane on a one-yard touchdown run and Army led 7-0.

The Hilltoppers quickly responded with a seven-play 68-yard drive in which Doughty was 4-for-4 through the air for 45 yards, highlighted by a 27-yard hookup with Dangerfield. The drive was capped off by a 12-yard scamper by Allen to tie the score.

The Army offense stalled and was forced to punt, but the snap sailed over Alex Tardieu's head and Western Kentucky took over on downs at the Army 15. Three plays later on third down, Doughty dropped back and eventually ran right to paydirt and the Hilltoppers went up by a touchdown.

Each team kicked second quarter field goals before another Army miscue led to points for Western Kentucky. The Black Knights missed a field goal late in the half and the Hilltoppers moved the ball near midfield before successfully scoring a 45-yard touchdown on the final play. Doughty bought his time before throwing down into the endzone where the ball was tipped and fell into the arms of Willie McNeal. The Hilltoppers took a 24-10 lead into the intermission.

After an Army punt to open the second half, Western Kentucky handed off to Allen on its first play of the second half and he bounced a run outside for an 80-yard touchdown run as the Hilltoppers' lead moved to 31-10.

The two teams alternated punts before Army used a big play of its own to pull within two touchdowns. Santiago faked a handoff up the middle and ran around the left side for a 54 yard touchdown run.

Leading 31-17 late in the third quarter, WKU added to its lead with a 69-yard drive that spanned just over three minutes. Allen's 48-yard run moved the Hilltoppers into the Army red zone and they scored when Doughty found Dangerfield on a six-yard passing play.

Army's next play from scrimmage resulted in a 58-yard touchdown run by Dixon straight through the heart of the Western Kentucky defense to make it 38-24.

Allen continued to find running lanes and had runs of 44 and 17 yards before powering his way to his third touchdown of the day from one yard out. The WKU running back went over 300 yards rushing on that drive.

The ensuing kickoff landed short of Army's return men and checked up near the Army 30-yard line where it was recovered by Western Kentucky. Five straight Allen carries preceded Doughty's strike to Nicholas Norris that extended the lead to 52-24. Army's final home game of the season is next Saturday when the Black Knights welcome Fordham to Michie Stadium for a Noon kickoff.