For Western Kentucky, this could very well be one of those games the Hilltoppers lose despite winning on the scoreboard.
On said scoreboard, WKU managed to avenge a 59-10 loss to Louisiana Tech last season in Ruston with a narrow 41-38 win over the Bulldogs in Bowling Green Thursday night. Brandon Doughty passed for 441 yards in helping the Hilltoppers roll up 585 yards of total offense.
Hands down the story of the game, though, was Leon Allen. Or, more specifically, what happened to Allen.
Early in the third quarter, the star WKU running back sustained what can only described as a gruesomely horrific injury. Or a horrifically gruesome injury. However it’s described, avoid the tweet below if you have a weak stomach or are faint of heart.
Allen needed the aid of WKU personnel to get off the field, and put no pressure on his left leg. He was subsequently shown on the television broadcast being carted off the field with a brace on his left knee.
There’s been no official update on the exact nature and severity of Allen’s injury — WKU coach Jeff Brohm was “not very optimistic” when asked about it postgame — even as the speculation centers on a torn ACL. “It’s unfortunate,” Brohm said. “You can ask anyone, and within our program, he’s our most valuable player.”
Prior to the injury, Allen had run for 81 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. He also had a 53-yard reception.
Allen was far and away the Hilltoppers’ leading rusher in 2014, totaling 1,542 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Anthony Wales was next with 518 yards and five touchdowns.
Those totals for Allen were good for third in Conference USA and 18th nationally.
He also, to put it mildly, had an interesting offseason off the field in 2015.
In non-Allen news, Jeff Driskel, he of the scapegoated Driskels, threw for a career-high 357 yards in the loss. His 21-yard touchdown pass, his second of the game, to Paul Turner brought Tech back to within three with :27 left. The subsequent onside bounced out of bounds, ending any hopes of coming back from a 14-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.