HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – While Marshall was basking in the glow of a 52-0 trouncing of FIU on Saturday, players could not help but let their minds finally start to wander toward Western Kentucky.
Finally, 351 days after the Hilltoppers celebrated a 67-66 overtime win at the Joan that ended Marshall’s perfect season, players could begin to focus on the game that fans had circled on the schedule months ago.
“Western Kentucky, that’s the game we’ve waited for all year,” said senior Evan McKelvey just minutes after Marshall’s emotional win Saturday night. “This is going to be a big week for us. We’ve got a bye week so that helps out with the players who have injuries, but other than that it’s going to be a big week with a lot of preparation going into this game.”
WKU was the preseason favorite to win Conference USA due in large part to an offense that can light up the scoreboard and a sixth-year quarterback in Brandon Doughty who is among the best quarterbacks in the country.
Doughty leads the nation in completion percentage (72.7), is second nationally in touchdown passes (34), and is third nationally in passing yards (3,590). He has helped lead the Hilltoppers to their best start in the FBS era with an 8-2 record and the lone undefeated record in Conference USA at 6-0.
“The work starts now mentality,” said Remi Watson Saturday night. “There are no days off around here.”
The bye week comes at the most opportune time for the Herd, which will have two weeks to prepare a strategy to slow down a Hilltopper offense averaging 41.8 points and 521 total yards of offense per game.
Stopping the WKU offense may be asking a bit much, but slowing it down enough so Marshall’s offense can keep pace is certainly possible. WKU has given up an average of 430 yards per game and 26 points per game.
“We’re foaming at the mouth and ready to go because we just know that this is our season. If you would have told us at the beginning of the season we were playing WKU for the east title then we would’ve been on board for it.”
The Herd has been able to maintain its focus on the next game on the schedule all season and resist the temptation to look ahead to the looming showdown. Now, with just one game left in the regular season, the Herd can finally concentrate on a game fans have been looking forward to for nearly a year.