Bowling Green, KY – After an expectedly shaky opening start, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers totaled 501 yards on offense and overcame a 24-20 deficit in the second half to defeat Sam Houston State, 41-24. Not only did we witness the opener for both, but they collided in their first Conference USA game of the season. WKU QB Maverick McIvor debuted throwing for 401 yards and three TDs. The 25-year-old senior transfer from Abilene Christian also took it in from the four to cap the scoring for the day. His prime target, WR Matthew Henry, grabbed seven strikes for 148 yards and a diving TD to put up the first score. Freshman Marvin Parrish also gained 58 yards through the air and caught a TD. He led Western Kentucky in rushing with 52 yards.
Longo Learning Curve at SHSU
For Sam Houston State, this game marked the first game under new HC Phil Longo. Last season, we attended Oregon at Wisconsin. Longo, then offensive coordinator under Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell, was fired the Monday after the 16-13 Badger loss. As a pass-oriented offensive coach, he looks to convert the run-oriented offense at Sam Houston to his style with players relearning the system. Bearkat QB Hunter Watson finished with mixed results regarding the transition. He completed 19 of 30 for 209 yards and tossed one INT. On the other hand, he ran for 91 yards, 55 of them on a keeper up the middle.
Sluggish but close first half
Western Kentucky drove 87 yards on its second possession. The highlight came on McIvor’s pass to Matthew Henry with a beautiful diving, twisting catch at the right-near pylon. It opened our 2025 scoring at Collegefootballfan.com’s 713th game. The Bearkats got on the board next with RJ Lopez’s 40- yard FG to end the first quarter down, 10-3. Guest Game Analyst Allen Tantum (US Air Force vet of 22 years) noted the Bearkats penchant for trying to run left against the Hilltoppers. But the WKU defense would not yield to that side.
SHSU finally found a hole right up the middle on Watson’s 55-yard jaunt. Once past the line of scrimmage, nothing but a wide-open field ahead. Right after that, Western Kentucky pieced together a 75-yard drive. La’Vell Wright took it over from the one. A 23-yard hard-fought reception by WR K.D. Hutchinson put the Toppers there. Later in the second, Western Kentucky got into position for John Cannon to attempt two FGs. He nailed both – the first from 49 and the second from 42. The Hilltoppers seemed in control at the half leading, 20-10. Momentum building for the visiting Bearkats?
Western Kentucky halftime celebrations
Western Kentucky introduced teammates and family members of deceased players from the 1979 national runner-up 1-AA football team. Under HC Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers finished 11-2 and tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 6-1 record. In the Camellia Bowl for the 1AA championship, they fell to Northern Michigan, 16-14. The playing field at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium is named in his honor. During his 16-year career in Bowling Green, his teams won 106 games. WKU’s Big Red Marching Band also celebrated its 100th anniversary playing songs of the past from Elvis and others before him in their tribute.
Bearkats bounce back to start second half
Sam Houston State came out smoking on its first possession to start the second. Alton McCaskill soared downfield for 52 yards to the two. From there, he took it over to get the ‘Kats within seven of the Hilltoppers. Next possession, Western Kentucky’s subsequent drive ended abruptly. A reception but a lost fumble resulted in a scoop-and-score by Bearkat DE Jamair Diaz. He raced 43 yards unchallenged to suddenly put Sam Houston up, 24-20. Seemingly unphased, the veteran WKU quarterback led his team back with an 87-yard drive. In this game, like other in the past, we sometimes wonder why kick returners challenge from deep in the end zone when the can get the ball automatically on the 25.
A key pass play from McIvor to Henry again for 37 yards put Western Kentucky at the SHSU nine. On a wheel left pass to KD Hutchinson, the Toppers retook the lead, 27-24. The defense held the Bearkats to punt from their 38 and a start again from their 13. This time, McIvor connected with WR Moussa Barry for 48 yards to the 22. Once again, McIvor finished off a scoring drive with his 22-yard pass to Marvis Parrish to widen the lead, 34-24. The score stood going into the last quarter.
Western Kentucky applies finishing touches
WKU’s Cole Maynard boomed a 71-yard punt to put SHSU back on its four to head into the fourth. The drive did not last long. DB Jaylen Lewis intercepted a Watson pass to put the Toppers at the Sam Houston 19. With 10:17 left to play, at the four McIvor bounced through the middle for the final score of the game. Following two punts and two turnovers on downs by both teams, Sam Houston started to move the football starting from their 33. They drove to the Western Kentucky nine. A sack and a few short gains later, Sam Houston turned the ball over on downs once more. WKU won the opener to seal its first victory and first CUSA win of the season, 41-24.
WEEK 2 coming up next Saturday
Western Kentucky will host FCS Northern Alabama. Sam Houston returns home to take on a good UNLV program. We at Collegefootballfan.com head west to attend our first two games in the state of Oregon. The 1 pm PT start kicks off in Eugene where the Oregon Ducks welcome FCS No. 2 Montana State. In our night cap, we drive over to Corvalis to see the Oregon State Beavers play the California Golden Bears. Looking forward to our trip that will add our 99th and 100th of FBS stadiums to attend. The state of Oregon becomes our 42nd that we’ll visit to see a college football game.
Check out our tales of yesteryear as we start up our 46th season! Unbelievable?
Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today! If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen every (well 134) FBS team play over the years! Two newest to be added later this season.
Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.
