American college football season
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]
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WKU 2002 1-AA Championship Game Highlights
2012-09-15 Western Kentucky @ Kentucky - First win over an SEC team for WKU!
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2001-11-15 Western Kentucky @ Kentucky
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source August 31 6:10 pm at Kansas State * No. 18 L 3–4845,844
September 7 5:30 pm Kentucky State * No. 22 W 49–09,500
September 14 1:30 pm Western Illinois No. 21 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY L 0–146,000 [4]
September 21 5:30 pm No. 11 Youngstown State L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY W 13–710,100
September 28 7:00 pm at No. 2 McNeese State * No. 25 L 13–3816,840
October 5 4:05 pm at No. 6 Northern Iowa W 31–1214,684
October 12 5:30 pm FIU * L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY W 56–76,000
October 19 1:30 pm at Southwest Missouri State No. 24 W 31–713,002
October 26 4:30 pm Indiana State No. 22 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY W 24–711,200
November 2 4:30 pm Illinois State No. 19 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY W 9–05,600 [5]
November 16 1:30 pm at Southern Illinois No. 15 W 48–163,203 [6]
November 30 1:00 pm No. 23 Murray State * No. 15 W 59–203,300
December 7 1:00 pm at No. 3 Western Illinois* No. 15 W 31–283,300 [7]
December 14 1:05 pm at No. 2 Georgia Southern * No. 15 W 31–286,573
5:30 pm vs. No. 1 McNeese State* No. 15 W 34–1412,360
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes ( ) = First-place votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final The Sports Network 18 22 21 RV 25 RV RV RV 24 22 19 15 15 15 1 (41)
Game summaries
At Kansas State
No. 18 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Kansas State Wildcats – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 18 Hilltoppers
0
0
0 3 3
Wildcats
3
31
7 7 48
at KSU Stadium , Manhattan, Kansas
Date : August 31Game time : 6:10 p.m. CDT Game weather : Clear, 89 °F (32 °C)Game attendance : 45,844Referee : John LaurieBox 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
Kentucky State Thorobreds at No. 22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Thorobreds
0
0
0 0 0
No. 22 Hilltoppers
14
17
9 9 49
at L. T. Smith Stadium , Bowling Green, Kentucky
Date : September 7Game time : 5:30 p.m. CDTGame 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
Western Illinois Leathernecks at No. 21 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Leathernecks
7
7
0 0 14
No. 21 Hilltoppers
0
0
0 0 0
at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Date : September 14Game time : 1:30 p.m. CDTGame 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
No. 11 Youngstown State Penguins at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 11 Penguins
0
7
0 0 7
Hilltoppers
3
7
3 0 13
at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Date : September 21Game time : 5:30 p.m. CDTGame 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
No. 25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 2 McNeese State Cowboys – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 25 Hilltoppers
0
10
3 0 13
No. 2 Cowboys
14
7
7 10 38
at Cowboy Stadium , Lake Charles, Louisiana
Date : September 28Game time : 7:00 p.m. CDTGame 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
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 6 Northern Iowa Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Hilltoppers
0
7
10 14 31
No. 6 Panthers
3
0
3 6 12
at UNI-Dome , Cedar Falls, Iowa
Date : October 5Game time : 4:05 p.m. CDTGame 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
FIU Panthers at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Panthers
0
0
0 7 7
Hilltoppers
21
21
0 14 56
at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Date : October 12Game time : 5:30 p.m. CDTGame attendance : 6,000
Statistics
FIU
WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
FIU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
At Southwest Missouri State
No. 24 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Southwest Missouri State Bears – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 24 Hilltoppers
7
7
10 7 31
Bears
7
0
0 0 7
at Plaster Sports Complex , Springfield, Missouri
Date : October 19Game time : 1:30 p.m. CDTGame 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
Indiana State Sycamores at No. 22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Sycamores
7
0
0 0 7
No. 22 Hilltoppers
10
14
0 0 24
at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Date : October 26Game time : 4:30 p.m. CDTGame 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
Illinois State Redbirds at No. 19 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Redbirds
0
0
0 0 0
No. 19 Hilltoppers
0
6
3 0 9
at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Date : November 2Game time : 4:30 p.m. CSTGame 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
No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Southern Illinois Salukis – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers
7
13
14 14 48
Salukis
3
0
6 7 16
at Saluki Stadium , Carbondale, Illinois
Date : November 16Game time : 1:30 p.m. CSTGame 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)
No. 23 Murray State Racers at No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (NCAA Division I-AA First Round) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 23 Racers
0
14
0 6 20
No. 15 Hilltoppers
24
14
7 14 59
at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Date : November 30Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame 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)
No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 3 Western Illinois (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers
0
7
7 17 31
No. 3 Leathernecks
0
14
7 7 28
at Hanson Field , Macomb, Illinois
Date : December 7Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame 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)
No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 2 Georgia Southern Eagles (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers
7
10
7 7 31
No. 2 Eagles
7
0
0 21 28
at Paulson Stadium , Statesboro, Georgia
Date : December 14Game 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)
No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. No. 1 McNeese State Cowboys (NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game) – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers
7
10
7 10 34
No. 1 Cowboys
0
6
8 0 14
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
^ 2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020
^ "Div. I-AA poll" . The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, Vermont. December 24, 2002. p. 6B. Retrieved May 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
^ Herbst, Rob (September 15, 2021). "Hilltoppers sacked by WIU" . The Daily News . p. 1B. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ 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 .
^ "Hilltoppers top Salukis for share of league title" . The Courier-Journal . November 17, 2002. p. C9. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Jauss, Bill (December 8, 2021). "Kicker's premonition turns into truth" . Chicago Tribune . p. 3:5. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
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This page was last edited on 16 March 2024, at 18:53