Jump to content

2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
NCAA Division I-AA champion
Gateway co-champion
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 1
Record12–3 (7–1 Gateway)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorWillie Taggart (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinatorKeven Lightner (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorDavid Elson (2nd season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumL. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
← 2001
2003 →
2002 Gateway Football Conference standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Western Kentucky +^   6 1     12 3  
No. 5 Western Illinois +^   6 1     11 2  
Youngstown State   4 3     7 4  
Illinois State   4 3     6 5  
Indiana State   3 4     5 7  
Northern Iowa   2 5     5 6  
Southern Illinois   2 5     4 8  
Southwest Missouri State   1 6     4 7  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by head coach Jack Harbaugh in his 14th and final season as head coach. They claimed a share of the Gateway Football Conference championship and made the school's third straight appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.[1] After a rocky start, the team rallied to win their last 10 games including the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game, beating McNeese State, 34–14, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked number 1 in both final 1AA postseason national polls.[2]

This team won the school's first NCAA team championship and tied the program record for victories in a season set by the 1973 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team. Their roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Sherrod Coates, Jeremi Johnson, and Brian Claybourn, and future NFL coach Jason Michael. Coates, Chris Price, and Buster Ashley were named to the AP All American team and Harbuagh was named AFCA Coach of the Year Award. The All Conference team included Ashley, Coates, Price, Jeremy Chandler, Erik Dandy, Jon Frazier, and Daniel Withrow.[3]

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 316:10 pmat Kansas State*No. 18L 3–4845,844
September 75:30 pmKentucky State*No. 22W 49–09,500
September 141:30 pmWestern IllinoisNo. 21
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
L 0–146,000[4]
September 215:30 pmNo. 11 Youngstown State
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 13–710,100
September 287:00 pmat No. 2 McNeese State*No. 25L 13–3816,840
October 54:05 pmat No. 6 Northern IowaW 31–1214,684
October 125:30 pmFIU*
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 56–76,000
October 191:30 pmat Southwest Missouri StateNo. 24W 31–713,002[5]
October 264:30 pmIndiana StatedaggerNo. 22
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 24–711,200
November 24:30 pmIllinois StateNo. 19
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 9–05,600[6]
November 161:30 pmat Southern IllinoisNo. 15W 48–163,203[7]
November 301:00 pmNo. 23 Murray State*No. 15
W 59–203,300
December 71:00 pmat No. 3 Western Illinois*No. 15
W 31–283,300[8]
December 141:05 pmat No. 2 Georgia Southern*No. 15
W 31–286,573
December 205:30 pmvs. No. 1 McNeese State*No. 15W 34–1412,360

Rankings

[edit]
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
The Sports Network182221RV25RVRVRV2422191515151 (41)

Game summaries

[edit]

At Kansas State

[edit]
No. 18 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Kansas State Wildcats – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 18 Hilltoppers 0 0 033
Wildcats 3 31 7748

at KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas

  • Date: August 31
  • Game time: 6:10 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Clear, 89 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 45,844
  • Referee: John Laurie
  • Box score, Recap
Game information
First quarter
  • KSU – Joe Rheem 36-yard field goal, 10:26. Wildcats 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 4:34.

Second quarter

  • KSU – Ayo Saba 2-yard run (Joe Rheem kick), 12:57. Wildcats 10–0. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 5:57.
  • KSU – Bobby Walker 73-yard interception return (Joe Rheem kick), 8:56. Wildcats 17–0.
  • KSU – Danny Morris 7-yard run (Joe Rheem kick), 4:51. Wildcats 24–0. Drive: 3 plays, 62 yards, 1:01.
  • KSU – Darren Sproles 9-yard run (Joe Rheem kick), 3:45. Wildcats 31–0. Drive: 1 play, 9 yards, 0:06.
  • KSU – Joe Rheem 38-yard field goal, 0:00. Wildcats 34–0. Drive: 7 plays, 27 yards, 0:00.

Third quarter

  • KSU – Ell Roberson 18-yard run (Joe Rheem kick), 3:47. Wildcats 41–0. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:31.

Fourth quarter

  • WKU – Peter Martinez 30-yard field goal, 7:18. Wildcats 41–3. Drive: 13 plays, 60 yards, 6:09.
  • KSU – Ayo Saba 2-yard run (Jared Brite kick), 1:27. Wildcats 48–3. Drive: 14 plays, 89 yards, 5:51.
Statistics WKU KSU
First downs 12 23
Total yards 183 412
Rushing yards 110 240
Passing yards 73 172
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 31:55 27:14
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Kentucky Passing Jason Michael 7/11, 73 yards, INT
Rushing Maurice Bradley 19 rushes, 64 yards
Receiving Casey Rooney 2 receptions, 28 yards
Kansas State Passing Ell Roberson 4/8, 108 yards
Rushing Darren Sproles 19 rushes, 135 yards, TD
Receiving Derrick Evans 3 receptions, 74 yards

Kentucky State

[edit]
Kentucky State Thorobreds at No. 22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Thorobreds 0 0 000
No. 22 Hilltoppers 14 17 9949

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 9,500
Statistics KSU WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Kentucky State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Western Illinois

[edit]
Western Illinois Leathernecks at No. 21 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Leathernecks 7 7 0014
No. 21 Hilltoppers 0 0 000

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: September 14
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 6,000
Statistics WIU WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 11 Youngstown State

[edit]
No. 11 Youngstown State Penguins at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 11 Penguins 0 7 007
Hilltoppers 3 7 3013

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: September 21
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 10,100
Statistics YSU WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Youngstown State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At No. 2 McNeese State

[edit]
No. 25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 2 McNeese State Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 25 Hilltoppers 0 10 3013
No. 2 Cowboys 14 7 71038

at Cowboy Stadium, Lake Charles, Louisiana

  • Date: September 28
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 16,840
Statistics WKU MCN
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving
McNeese State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At No. 6 Northern Iowa

[edit]
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 6 Northern Iowa Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Hilltoppers 0 7 101431
No. 6 Panthers 3 0 3612

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, Iowa

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 14,684
Statistics WKU UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving

FIU

[edit]
FIU Panthers at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 077
Hilltoppers 21 21 01456

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: October 12
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C)
  • Game attendance: 6,000
  • Referee: Bill Etzler
Game information
First quarter
  • WKU – Jason Michael 7-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 9:53. Hilltoppers 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 3:13.
  • WKU – Jon Frazier 3-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 7:10. Hilltoppers 14–0. Drive: 4 plays, 45 yards, 1:48.
  • WKU – Jason Michael 8-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 1:59. Hilltoppers 21–0. Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 2:58.

Second quarter

  • WKU – Jerome Reaves 25-yard pass from Jason Michael (Peter Martinez kick), 10:53. Hilltoppers 28–0. Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 3:40.
  • WKU – Jason Michael 1-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 7:18. Hilltoppers 35–0. Drive: 7 plays, 49 yards, 3:21.
  • WKU – Patrick Reynolds 1-yard fumble return (Peter Martinez kick), 5:42. Hilltoppers 42–0.

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

  • WKU – Maurice Bradley 3-yard run (Wilson Wickerham kick), 13:45. Hilltoppers 49–0. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:23.
  • FIU – Cory McKinney 2-yard pass from David Tabor (Adam Moss kick), 11:02. Hilltoppers 49–7. Drive: 3 plays, 2 yards, 0:49.
  • WKU – Alex Dukes 1-yard run (Matt Lange kick), 3:19. Hilltoppers 56–7. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 7:43.
Statistics FIU WKU
First downs 7 28
Total yards 65 498
Rushing yards -7 401
Passing yards 72 97
Turnovers 5 3
Time of possession 23:13 36:47
Team Category Player Statistics
FIU Passing Jamie Burke 5/14, 75 yards, 4 INT
Rushing Rashod Smith 6 rushes, 21 yards
Receiving Harold Leath 2 receptions, 38 yards
Western Kentucky Passing Jason Michael 6/10, 97 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Jon Frazier 15 rushes, 126 yards, TD
Receiving Jeremi Johnson 2 receptions, 45 yards

At Southwest Missouri State

[edit]
No. 24 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Southwest Missouri State Bears – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 24 Hilltoppers 7 7 10731
Bears 7 0 007

at Plaster Sports Complex, Springfield, Missouri

  • Date: October 19
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 13,002
Statistics WKU SMS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southwest Missouri State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Indiana State

[edit]
Indiana State Sycamores at No. 22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sycamores 7 0 007
No. 22 Hilltoppers 10 14 0024

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: October 26
  • Game time: 4:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 11,200
Statistics INS WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Indiana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Illinois State

[edit]
Illinois State Redbirds at No. 19 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redbirds 0 0 000
No. 19 Hilltoppers 0 6 309

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: November 2
  • Game time: 4:30 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 5,600
Statistics ILS WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Illinois State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At Southern Illinois

[edit]
No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Southern Illinois Salukis – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers 7 13 141448
Salukis 3 0 6716

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, Illinois

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 3,203
Statistics WKU SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 23 Murray State (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)

[edit]
No. 23 Murray State Racers at No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (NCAA Division I-AA First Round) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 23 Racers 0 14 0620
No. 15 Hilltoppers 24 14 71459

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: November 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 3,300
Statistics MUR WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Murray State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At No. 3 Western Illinois (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)

[edit]
No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 3 Western Illinois (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers 0 7 71731
No. 3 Leathernecks 0 14 7728

at Hanson Field, Macomb, Illinois

  • Date: December 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 3,300
Statistics WKU WIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

At No. 2 Georgia Southern (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal)

[edit]
No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 2 Georgia Southern Eagles (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers 7 10 7731
No. 2 Eagles 7 0 02128

at Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, Georgia

  • Date: December 14
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 6,573
Statistics WKU GSO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Georgia Southern Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Vs No. 1 McNeese State (NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game)

[edit]
No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. No. 1 McNeese State Cowboys (NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers 7 10 71034
No. 1 Cowboys 0 6 8014

at Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Game information
First quarter
  • WKU – Jeremi Johnson 16-yard pass from Jason Michael (Peter Martinez kick), 9:36. Hilltoppers 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 27 yards, 3:01.

Second quarter

  • WKU – Jon Frazier 55-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 14:51. Hilltoppers 14–0. Drive: 4 plays, 88 yards, 1:53.
  • MCN – John Marino 30-yard field goal, 7:32. Hilltoppers 14–3. Drive: 10 plays, 56 yards, 4:37.
  • WKU – Peter Martinez 40-yard field goal, 4:55. Hilltoppers 17–3. Drive: 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:37.
  • MCN – John Marino 24-yard field goal, 0:07. Hilltoppers 17–6. Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 0:48.

Third quarter

  • WKU – Jon Frazier 14-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 11:03. Hilltoppers 24–6. Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:05.
  • MCN – Luke Lawton 15-yard pass from Scott Pendarvis (Scott Pendarvis pass to Jeff Hamilton), 3:49. Hilltoppers 24–14. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:13.

Fourth quarter

  • WKU – Jason Michael 2-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 13:49. Hilltoppers 31–14. Drive: 10 plays, 79 yards, 5:00.
  • WKU – Peter Martinez 23-yard field goal, 2:51. Hilltoppers 34–14. Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:36.
Statistics WKU MCN
First downs 13 26
Total yards 380 405
Rushing yards 195 137
Passing yards 185 268
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 30:18 29:42
Team Category Player Statistics
Western Kentucky Passing Jason Michael 6/10, 185 yards, TD
Rushing Jon Frazier 27 rushes, 159 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Jeremi Johnson 3 receptions, 90 yards, TD
McNeese State Passing Scott Pendarvis 21/38, 244 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Marcus Trahan 12 rushes, 82 yards
Receiving B. J. Sams 7 receptions, 69 yards

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020
  2. ^ "Div. I-AA poll". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. December 24, 2002. p. 6B. Retrieved May 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. ^ Herbst, Rob (September 15, 2021). "Hilltoppers sacked by WIU". The Daily News. p. 1B. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Michael leads Western's 31–7 rout". The Courier-Journal. October 20, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Brown, C. L. (November 3, 2002). "Defense dominates in Western's 9-0 win". The Courier-Journal. p. C9. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Hilltoppers top Salukis for share of league title". The Courier-Journal. November 17, 2002. p. C9. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Jauss, Bill (December 8, 2021). "Kicker's premonition turns into truth". Chicago Tribune. p. 3:5. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.