RICHMOND, Ky. - Following a 52-7 defeat by the No. 27-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington this past Saturday, coach Roy Kidd's Eastern Kentucky University Colonels football team must again go on the road to face a tough opponent - the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers Saturday night in Bowling Green at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
Western Kentucky, who also lost last week (a 36-31 decision to Murray State), still has outstanding quarterback Willie Taggart at the controls, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by Eastern's veteran head coach.
"We faced a quarterback last week in Tim Couch that can hurt you throwing the ball and now we have to go against Willie Taggart, who has burned us both running and throwing it in past games," said Kidd. "Taggart is very talented and has loads of experience. Our defense will have one of the toughest tasks it will face all year. I know one thing. I'll sure be glad when that young man's eligibility is up."
Western took the measure of the Colonels twice in 1997, defeating Eastern 37-21 in Richmond and then 42-14 in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs at Bowling Green in late November. The 'Toppers now lead the series, 41-31-3.
Saturday's game will be an interesting matchup that pits the nation's No. 4 defense against the rush in Eastern Kentucky (30.0 pg) against one of the nation's top rushing offenses in WKU (297.0).
Taggart leads the way for Western with 168 rushing yards and 179 passing yards, followed by runningbacks Rod Smart and Jammie Kyle with 123 and 116 rushing yards, respectively. Through the air, Taggart is 9-26 this year for one TD. Wide receiver Alan Ogletree tops the team in receptions with three for 74 yards and one TD.
Defensively, linebacker Trae Hackett leads the charge with 15 hits (11T, 4A) compiled thus far in 1998 for a WKU defense that is yielding 86.0 yards on the ground and 217.0 yards through the air per game.
Eastern's defense, for the most part, played well against the high-powered Kentucky offense. Led by linebackers Charles Tinsley (seven tackles, two assists, two QB sacks) and Brad Folke (four tackles, six assists) and defensive end Randy Lawrence (three solos, two tackles for loss, deflected pass), Eastern yielded but 62 yards on the ground and 386 yards via passing.
Sophomore wideout Anthony Boggs, in his second collegiate game, led the way for Eastern on offense with 83 yards on three carries, in addition to one pass reception for 12 yards and five kickoff returns for 82 yards. He was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week for this effort.
Junior quarterback Jon Denton, under heavy pressure all day, played two and one-half quarters, completing 3-10 passes for 41 yards and one TD, a nine-yard third quarter strike to senior tight end Tony DeGregorio.
"Our inexperienced defense gave it everything they had. UK just had too much speed and too much talent in their skill positions. I was a little disappointed in our offense. I thought we would play better," Kidd said.
"We played everybody we brought and, from that standpoint, it was good to get these guys some real game experience," he added.
Tickets to the Western Kentucky game and all five of Eastern's remaining home contests are on sale weekdays at the EKU Athletics Ticket Office in Room 126 of Alumni Coliseum. Tickets may also be ordered by phone by calling (606) 622-2122 or 1-800-262-7493, inside Kentucky.
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