Match Preview
The Boca Raton Bowl features two of the highest scoring offenses in college football, the Hilltoppers, Western Kentucky University (WKU) and the winner of Conference USA, the Memphis Tigers, who are in the very tough American Conference.
This should be an exciting and very high scoring game, both of these teams are in the top 17 for scoring offensive points and both of their kickoff return teams are in the top five, averaging close to 27 yards each time.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (10-3 overall, 7-1 conference) are ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring offense, 45.2 points per game, No.5 in passing offense with 336.8 yards per game, No. 7 in total offense with 517 yards per game, and No. 5 in kickoff returns with an average yards of 26.9 yards per game. Their rushing defense is the 6th lowest in the nation, giving up an average of 99.1 yards per game - Memphis will be primarily attacking from the air though.
This past season's head coach Jeff Brohm left earlier this month for the head coaching position at Purdue, WKU hired Mike Sanford, who most recently was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame - in 2010, he had the same roles for WKU. Aged at 34, he will be the youngest head coach in the FBS, WKU's press release described him as one of college football's greatest offensive minds. He'll just be a fan and bystander for the Bowl game, he'll be starting his coaching duties in the new year.
WKU has had 30 wins/10 losses in three seasons under Brohm and won back-to-back Conference USA championships. The coach for the Boca Raton Bowl will be the Interim Head coach Nick Holt, who was WKU's Associate Head Coach & Defensive coordinator for the past two seasons.
Western Kentucky Key Players
This will be the redshirt junior QB, Mike White, first season as starting quarterback - he's really flourished at WKU under coach Brohm. He heads up the 5th best passing offense with over 336 yards per game. Completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 4,027 yards, 34 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He has a total Quarterback rating of 77.1, 16th in the nation. He is a Fort Lauderdale native, will have lots of friends and family cheering him on.
Running Back Anthony Wales, No. 15 in the nation in rushing yards with 1,376 yards and No.2 in rushing touchdowns with 24. Wide Receiver Taywan Taylor, 1,586 receiving yards this season, 2nd in the nation, 16 TD's. WR, Nicholas Norris, 1,253 receiving yards this season, 11th in the nation, 13 TD's.
Injuries
Their Defensive Linebacker, T.J. McCollum is injured and he won’t play in the bowl game, he recorded 85 tackles this season (45 solo) with four tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups. He ranks second on the Hilltopper team with 59 tackles on run plays despite missing two games. He recorded a team-high 10 tackles in the league championship game before getting injured.
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Memphis Tigers
The Memphis Tigers (8-4 overall, 5-3 conference) rank No. 17 nationally in scoring offense, 39.4 points per game, No. 21 in passing offense with 294.9 yards per game, No. 32 in total offense with 461 yards per game, and No. 4 in kickoff returns with an average yards of 27 yards per game. Their high ranked special team, ranked 10th in kickoff returns for 1,159 yards, punting on average of 43.8 yards, kickoff coverage with 42 net average, and tied for first in point after kicking, 54-54.
Memphis’ has had the tougher schedule this year and they have had a few key matchups where they performed well. This year they’ve beat Houston (#24 CBS), Temple (#22 CBS) and pushed South Florida (#21 CBS) in a fight.
Even though this is Coach Mike Norvell's first year as head coach for Memphis, the team has done tremendously well under his leadership.
Memphis Key Players
Quarterback Riley Ferguson, like WKU QB, this is Riley’s first season with the Tigers, he transferred from Coffeyville Community college where he was ranked 3rd among Junior College quarterbacks. He has over 3300 yards in the season, 18th in the nation, 28 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 4 rushing TDs. Total Quarterback rating 63.4, 55th in the nation.
Wide Receiver Anthony Miller, 1,283 receiving yards this season, 9th in the nation, 11 TD's. Running Back Doroland Dorceus, with 783 rushing yards and 9 TDs. Punter Spencer Smith is 7th in the nation. Tony Pollard, was named American Conference Special Teams player of the year, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this year.
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Game Information
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Memphis Tigers
Tuesday, December 22nd on ESPN (American Time | Date)
4:00 PM PST - 6:00 PM CST - 7:00 PM EST - (December 23rd, 12:00 AM UTC)
Florida Atlantic University (FIU) Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida
