Western Kentucky is bowl eligible after beating Sam Houston 28-23
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) Austin Reed threw a 75-yard scoring strike to Malachi Corley in the fourth quarter and Western Kentucky became eligible for a bowl game after rallying for a 28-23 victory over Sam Houston on Saturday.
Reed threw for a 45-yard touchdown to Dalvin Smith to give Western Kentucky (6-5, 3-3 Conference USA) a 7-0 lead after one quarter.
Sam Houston (2-9, 1-6) bounced back with Keegan Shoemaker's 42-yard touchdown throw to Noah Smith and Adrian Murdaugh's 1-yard scoring plunge to take a 13-7 lead. Markese Stepp scored on a 3-yard run and Reed connected with Craig Burt Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown as the Hilltoppers regained the lead. Colby Sessums kicked a 53-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to pull the Bearkats within 21-16.
Sam Houston had the only score of the third quarter - John Gentry's 7-yard touchdown run - to take a 23-21 lead.
Reed's game-winning drive started on the Hilltoppers' 1-yard line. Seven plays later Reed hit Corley, capping the scoring with 11:53 remaining.
Reed finished with a season-high 392 yards on 28-of-41 passing with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Corley had eight receptions for 171 yards. Smith had 125 yards on seven catches.
Shoemaker completed 25 of 45 passes for 271 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for Sam Houston. DB Caleb Weaver had two interceptions and Da’Marcus Crosby returned a pick 39 yards.
Sam Houston hosts Middle Tennessee in its season finale next Saturday. Western Kentucky closes out the regular season at Florida International on Saturday.
---
Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here
---
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
K. Shoemaker
5 QB
|
K. Shoemaker | 25/45 | 271 | 1 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Gentry
9 RB
|
J. Gentry | 15 | 41 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Shoemaker
5 QB
|
K. Shoemaker | 10 | 34 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Smith
6 WR
|
N. Smith | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Murdaugh
26 RB
|
A. Murdaugh | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Nixon
18 LB
|
I. Nixon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
N. Smith
6 WR
|
N. Smith | 15 | 10 | 115 | 1 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gentry
9 RB
|
J. Gentry | 5 | 4 | 68 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Sherrard
37 TE
|
J. Sherrard | 4 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Evans
16 WR
|
S. Evans | 2 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Phillips
19 WR
|
M. Phillips | 6 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Jewett
86 TE
|
T. Jewett | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Woodard
4 WR
|
A. Woodard | 5 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Murdaugh
26 RB
|
A. Murdaugh | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Beall
73 OL
|
M. Beall | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Adksim
80 WR
|
L. Adksim | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Adkins
12 DB
|
D. Adkins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
T. Williams
1 LB
|
T. Williams | 11-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Gaither
14 LB
|
K. Gaither | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hobbs
23 DB
|
D. Hobbs | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Crosby II
25 DB
|
D. Crosby II | 3-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Mason
93 DL
|
S. Mason | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Downes
4 DB
|
I. Downes | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Fisher
5 DB
|
D. Fisher | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Perry
33 LB
|
M. Perry | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Allen
7 DB
|
E. Allen | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Hayes
44 DL
|
B. Hayes | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Murray
11 DL
|
C. Murray | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Yates
1 QB
|
J. Yates | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Adksim
80 WR
|
L. Adksim | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Weaver
3 DB
|
C. Weaver | 1-2 | 0.0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Adkins
12 DB
|
D. Adkins | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Aribisala
96 DL
|
M. Aribisala | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Wallace
45 LB
|
E. Wallace | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Scott
97 DL
|
C. Scott | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Phillips
10 LB
|
J. Phillips | 0-4 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. Sessums
47 K
|
C. Sessums | 1/1 | 53 | 2/3 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Cardell
43 K
|
J. Cardell | 7 | 41.0 | 2 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Shoemaker
5 QB
|
K. Shoemaker | 1 | 47.0 | 1 | 47 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. Phillips
19 WR
|
M. Phillips | 3 | 17.7 | 21 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
E. Allen 7 DB
|
E. Allen | 1 | 25.0 | 25 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. Reed
16 QB
|
A. Reed | 28/41 | 392 | 3 | 4 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
E. Young
3 RB
|
E. Young | 15 | 55 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Ervin-Poindexter
2 RB
|
D. Ervin-Poindexter | 6 | 16 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Stepp
30 RB
|
M. Stepp | 4 | 8 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Corley
11 WR
|
M. Corley | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Reed
16 QB
|
A. Reed | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Corley
11 WR
|
M. Corley | 11 | 10 | 171 | 1 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Smith
17 WR
|
D. Smith | 9 | 7 | 125 | 1 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Burt Jr.
19 WR
|
C. Burt Jr. | 11 | 6 | 54 | 1 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Young
3 RB
|
E. Young | 2 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Messer
8 WR
|
E. Messer | 3 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Borland
86 TE
|
T. Borland | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hutchinson
15 WR
|
K. Hutchinson | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
S. Benjamin
59 LB
|
S. Benjamin | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
U. Stout
21 DB
|
U. Stout | 4-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Davis
99 DL
|
K. Davis | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Loving
94 DL
|
J. Loving | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Weber
5 DB
|
R. Weber | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Guidry
32 LB
|
K. Guidry | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. McCray
95 DE
|
D. McCray | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Baker
10 LB
|
D. Baker | 2-2 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Simpkins
16 DB
|
K. Simpkins | 2-2 | 1.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Johnson Jr.
4 DB
|
A. Johnson Jr. | 2-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Allen
11 DB
|
T. Allen | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Wheeler
98 DT
|
H. Wheeler | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Thompson
13 DT
|
T. Thompson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
14 DB
|
D. Williams | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Brackenridge
31 LB
|
A. Brackenridge | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Patterson
92 DE
|
M. Patterson | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Cooper
48 LB
|
N. Cooper | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Williams
7 DB
|
T. Williams | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
L. Carneiro
17 K
|
L. Carneiro | 0/0 | 0 | 4/4 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
E. Messer
8 WR
|
E. Messer | 3 | 29.7 | 39 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. Hutchinson 15 WR
|
K. Hutchinson | 4 | 5.3 | 18 | 0 |