The 2021 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (CUSA). The team was coached by third-year head coach Tyson Helton.
Schedule Western Kentucky announced its 2021 football schedule on January 27, 2021. The 2021 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season.
Schedule source:
Game summaries
UT Martin
Statistics UT MartinWestern Kentucky First downs 22 25 Total yards 396 587 Rushing yards 201 109 Passing yards 195 478 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 33:30 26:30
Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Keon Howard 20/43, 195 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Peyton Logan 7 carries, 75 yards Receiving Colton Dowell 6 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TDWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 28/35, 424 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Kye Robichaux 9 carries, 44 yards Receiving Jerreth Sterns 7 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TDs
At Army
Statistics Western KentuckyArmy First downs 22 23 Total yards 477 416 Rushing yards 42 339 Passing yards 435 77 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 20:22 39:38
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 28/40, 435 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Noah Whittington 8 carries, 33 yards Receiving Jerreth Sterns 9 receptions, 171 yards, 2 TDsArmy Passing Christian Anderson 5/6, 77 yards, 1 TD Rushing Christian Anderson 22 carries, 119 yards Receiving Braheam Murphy 1 reception, 40 yards, 1 TD
Indiana
Statistics IndianaWestern Kentucky First downs 35 24 Total yards 507 458 Rushing yards 134 93 Passing yards 373 365 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 38:34 21:26
Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 35/53, 373 yards Rushing Stephen Carr 25 carries, 109 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Peyton Hendershot 7 receptions, 100 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 31/44, 365 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Noah Whittington 6 carries, 41 yards Receiving Jerreth Sterns 7 receptions, 82 yards
At Michigan State
Statistics Western KentuckyMichigan State First downs 31 26 Total yards 560 519 Rushing yards 72 192 Passing yards 488 327 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 29:35 30:25
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 46/64, 488 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Noah Whittington 7 carries, 37 yards Receiving Jerreth Sterns 17 receptions, 186 yards, 1 TDMichigan State Passing Payton Thorne 20/30, 327 yards, 1 TD Rushing Kenneth Walker III 24 carries, 126 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Jalen Nailor 8 receptions, 128 yards
UTSA
Statistics UTSAWestern Kentucky First downs 32 35 Total yards 564 670 Rushing yards 192 147 Passing yards 372 523 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 29:56 30:04
Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 28/38, 349 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Sincere McCormick 23 carries, 120 yards Receiving De'Corian Clark 7 receptions, 160 yards, 3 TDsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 38/60, 523 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Adam Cofield 9 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jerreth Sterns 16 receptions, 195 yards, 2 TDs
At Old Dominion
Statistics Western KentuckyOld Dominion First downs 29 23 Total yards 518 446 Rushing yards 121 119 Passing yards 397 327 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 30:39 29:21
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 36/54, 397 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Adam Cofield 10 carries, 67 yards Receiving Jerreth Sterns 13 receptions, 221 yards, 1 TDOld Dominion Passing Hayden Wolff 26/41, 327 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Blake Watson 22 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ali Jennings III 13 receptions, 172 yards
At FIU
Statistics Western KentuckyFIU First downs 31 18 Total yards 530 290 Rushing yards 148 28 Passing yards 382 262 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 33:15 26:45
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 39/49, 382 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Adam Cofield 15 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jerreth Sterns 14 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TDsFIU Passing Max Bortenschlager 15/32, 192 yards, 1 TD Rushing D'Vonte Price 15 carries, 86 yards Receiving Randall St. Felix 5 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD
Charlotte
Statistics CharlotteWestern Kentucky First downs 17 29 Total yards 319 469 Rushing yards 190 76 Passing yards 129 393 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 33:44 26:16
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing James Foster 12/24, 129 yards, 1 INT Rushing Calvin Camp 7 carries, 60 yards Receiving Shadrick Byrd 1 reception, 53 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 33/45, 393 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Noah Whittington 10 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jerreth Sterns 10 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD
Middle Tennessee
Statistics Middle TennesseeWestern Kentucky First downs 19 19 Total yards 349 352 Rushing yards 123 71 Passing yards 226 281 Turnovers 7 0 Time of possession 33:02 26:58
Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Nick Vattiato 24/41, 205 yards, 2 TDs, 5 INTs Rushing Frank Peasant 18 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD Receiving DJ England-Chisolm 3 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TDWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 29/50, 281 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Noah Whittington 17 carries, 67 yards Receiving Jerreth Sterns 11 receptions, 110 yards
At Rice
Statistics Western KentuckyRice First downs 27 25 Total yards 587 504 Rushing yards 92 124 Passing yards 495 380 Turnovers 4 5 Time of possession 24:20 35:40
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 34/42, 482 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Kye Robichaux 12 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD Receiving Mitchell Tinsley 10 receptions, 198 yards, 2 TDsRice Passing Jake Constantine 28/50, 380 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs Rushing Ari Broussard 15 carries, 60 yards Receiving August Pitre III 9 receptions, 113 yards
Florida Atlantic
Statistics Florida AtlanticWestern Kentucky First downs 18 35 Total yards 301 608 Rushing yards 25 100 Passing yards 276 508 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 24:39 35:21
Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida Atlantic Passing N'Kosi Perry 19/28, 213 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Johnny Ford 13 carries, 48 yards Receiving Je'Quan Burton 7 receptions, 80 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 39/49, 470 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Noah Whittington 9 carries, 46 yards Receiving Mitchell Tinsley 9 receptions, 164 yards, 2 TDs
At Marshall
Statistics Western KentuckyMarshall First downs 25 20 Total yards 485 325 Rushing yards 157 126 Passing yards 328 199 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 30:34 29:26
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 24/48, 328 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Noah Whittington 14 carries, 69 yards Receiving Daewood Davis 3 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDsMarshall Passing Luke Zban 16/25, 123 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Rasheen Ali 24 carries, 99 yards Receiving Corey Gammage 7 receptions, 44 yards
At UTSA (C-USA Championship)
Statistics Western KentuckyUTSA First downs 26 28 Total yards 568 556 Rushing yards -9 304 Passing yards 577 252 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 23:16 36:44
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 36/59, 577 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Noah Whittington 4 carries, 15 yards Receiving Jerreth Sterns 10 receptions, 179 yards, 2 TDsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 19/28, 218 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Sincere McCormick 36 carries, 204 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Zakhari Franklin 6 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Appalachian State (Boca Raton Bowl)
Statistics Western KentuckyAppalachian State First downs 24 27 Total yards 609 637 Rushing yards 251 215 Passing yards 358 422 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 31:12 28:48
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Bailey Zappe 33/47, 422 yards, 6 TD Rushing Noah Wittington 7 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jerreth Sterns 13 receptions, 184 yards, 3 TDAppalachian State Passing Chase Brice 15/23, 317 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Camerun Peoples 13 carries, 101 yards Receiving Christian Wells 4 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD
References