# 2021 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

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 consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | UT Martin* | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | ESPN+ | W 59–21 | 16,236 |
| September 11 | 11:00 a.m. | at Army* | Michie StadiumWest Point, NY | CBSSN | L 35–38 | 25,989 |
| September 25 | 7:00 p.m. | Indiana* | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | CBSSN | L 31–33 | 25,171 |
| October 2 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 17 Michigan State* | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | FS1 | L 31–48 | 70,075 |
| October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | UTSA | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | Stadium | L 46–52 | 15,243 |
| October 16 | 2:30 p.m. | at Old Dominion | S.B. Ballard StadiumNorfolk, VA | ESPN3 | W 43–20 | 16,418 |
| October 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at FIU | Riccardo Silva StadiumMiami, FL | ESPN+ | W 34–19 | 0 |
| October 30 | 3:00 p.m. | Charlotte | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | ESPN+ | W 45–13 | 16,763 |
| November 6 | 2:30 p.m. | Middle Tennessee | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY (100 Miles of Hate) | Stadium | W 48–21 | 15,022 |
| November 13 | 1:00 p.m. | at Rice | Rice StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN+ | W 42–21 | 17,883 |
| November 20 | 11:00 a.m. | Florida Atlantic | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | Stadium | W 52–17 | 10,477 |
| November 27 | 2:30 p.m. | at Marshall | Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV | CBSSN | W 53–21 | 19,134 |
| December 3 | 6:00 p.m. | at UTSA | AlamodomeSan Antonio, TX (C-USA Championship Game) | CBSSN | L 41–49 | 41,148 |
| December 18 | 10:00 a.m. | vs. Appalachian State* | FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL (Boca Raton Bowl) | ESPN | W 59–38 | 15,429 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### UT Martin

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Skyhawks | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Hilltoppers | 7 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 56 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –24.0 | 58.5 |
| Statistics | UT Martin | Western 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 | Statistics |
| UT Martin | Passing | Keon Howard | 20/43, 195 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| UT Martin | Rushing | Peyton Logan | 7 carries, 75 yards |
| UT Martin | Receiving | Colton Dowell | 6 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 28/35, 424 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Kye Robichaux | 9 carries, 44 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 7 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Army

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 35 |
| • Black Knights | 0 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ARMY –6.0 | 51.5 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Army |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 28/40, 435 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Whittington | 8 carries, 33 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 9 receptions, 171 yards, 2 TDs |
| Army | Passing | Christian Anderson | 5/6, 77 yards, 1 TD |
| Army | Rushing | Christian Anderson | 22 carries, 119 yards |
| Army | Receiving | Braheam Murphy | 1 reception, 40 yards, 1 TD |

### Indiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hoosiers | 14 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 33 |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| IU –9.5 | 63 |
| Statistics | Indiana | Western 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 | Statistics |
| Indiana | Passing | Michael Penix Jr. | 35/53, 373 yards |
| Indiana | Rushing | Stephen Carr | 25 carries, 109 yards, 2 TDs |
| Indiana | Receiving | Peyton Hendershot | 7 receptions, 100 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 31/44, 365 yards, 3 TDs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Whittington | 6 carries, 41 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 7 receptions, 82 yards |

### At Michigan State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 10 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 31 |
| • No. 17 Spartans | 21 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 48 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MSU –10.5 | 66.5 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Michigan 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 | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 46/64, 488 yards, 3 TDs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Whittington | 7 carries, 37 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 17 receptions, 186 yards, 1 TD |
| Michigan State | Passing | Payton Thorne | 20/30, 327 yards, 1 TD |
| Michigan State | Rushing | Kenneth Walker III | 24 carries, 126 yards, 3 TDs |
| Michigan State | Receiving | Jalen Nailor | 8 receptions, 128 yards |

### UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Roadrunners | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 52 |
| Hilltoppers | 10 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 46 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –3.5 | 71 |
| Statistics | UTSA | Western 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 | Statistics |
| UTSA | Passing | Frank Harris | 28/38, 349 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT |
| UTSA | Rushing | Sincere McCormick | 23 carries, 120 yards |
| UTSA | Receiving | De'Corian Clark | 7 receptions, 160 yards, 3 TDs |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 38/60, 523 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Adam Cofield | 9 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 16 receptions, 195 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Old Dominion

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hilltoppers | 14 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 43 |
| Monarchs | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –13.5 | 67 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Old 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 | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 36/54, 397 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Adam Cofield | 10 carries, 67 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 13 receptions, 221 yards, 1 TD |
| Old Dominion | Passing | Hayden Wolff | 26/41, 327 yards, 2 INTs |
| Old Dominion | Rushing | Blake Watson | 22 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD |
| Old Dominion | Receiving | Ali Jennings III | 13 receptions, 172 yards |

### At FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hilltoppers | 0 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
| Panthers | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 19 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –16.5 | 78 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | FIU |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 39/49, 382 yards, 3 TDs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Adam Cofield | 15 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 14 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TDs |
| FIU | Passing | Max Bortenschlager | 15/32, 192 yards, 1 TD |
| FIU | Rushing | D'Vonte Price | 15 carries, 86 yards |
| FIU | Receiving | Randall St. Felix | 5 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD |

### Charlotte

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| • Hilltoppers | 14 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –19.5 | 71.5 |
| Statistics | Charlotte | Western 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 | Statistics |
| Charlotte | Passing | James Foster | 12/24, 129 yards, 1 INT |
| Charlotte | Rushing | Calvin Camp | 7 carries, 60 yards |
| Charlotte | Receiving | Shadrick Byrd | 1 reception, 53 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 33/45, 393 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Whittington | 10 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 10 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD |

### Middle Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Hilltoppers | 21 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 48 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –17.5 | 66.5 |
| Statistics | Middle Tennessee | Western 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 | Statistics |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nick Vattiato | 24/41, 205 yards, 2 TDs, 5 INTs |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Frank Peasant | 18 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | DJ England-Chisolm | 3 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 29/50, 281 yards, 4 TDs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Whittington | 17 carries, 67 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 11 receptions, 110 yards |

### At Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hilltoppers | 7 | 21 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
| Owls | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –19.0 | 61.5 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Rice |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 34/42, 482 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Kye Robichaux | 12 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Mitchell Tinsley | 10 receptions, 198 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rice | Passing | Jake Constantine | 28/50, 380 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs |
| Rice | Rushing | Ari Broussard | 15 carries, 60 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | August Pitre III | 9 receptions, 113 yards |

### Florida Atlantic

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| • Hilltoppers | 14 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 52 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –11.5 | 64 |
| Statistics | Florida Atlantic | Western 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 | Statistics |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | N'Kosi Perry | 19/28, 213 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Florida Atlantic | Rushing | Johnny Ford | 13 carries, 48 yards |
| Florida Atlantic | Receiving | Je'Quan Burton | 7 receptions, 80 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 39/49, 470 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Whittington | 9 carries, 46 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Mitchell Tinsley | 9 receptions, 164 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Marshall

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hilltoppers | 0 | 6 | 23 | 24 | 53 |
| Thundering Herd | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| EVEN | 75 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Marshall |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 24/48, 328 yards, 4 TDs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Whittington | 14 carries, 69 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Daewood Davis | 3 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs |
| Marshall | Passing | Luke Zban | 16/25, 123 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Marshall | Rushing | Rasheen Ali | 24 carries, 99 yards |
| Marshall | Receiving | Corey Gammage | 7 receptions, 44 yards |

### At UTSA (C-USA Championship)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 10 | 3 | 13 | 15 | 41 |
| • Roadrunners | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –3.0 | 74.5 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | UTSA |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 36/59, 577 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Whittington | 4 carries, 15 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 10 receptions, 179 yards, 2 TDs |
| UTSA | Passing | Frank Harris | 19/28, 218 yards, 2 TDs |
| UTSA | Rushing | Sincere McCormick | 36 carries, 204 yards, 3 TDs |
| UTSA | Receiving | Zakhari Franklin | 6 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Appalachian State (Boca Raton Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hilltoppers | 14 | 17 | 21 | 7 | 59 |
| Mountaineers | 14 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –1.0 | 68 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Appalachian 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 | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Bailey Zappe | 33/47, 422 yards, 6 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Noah Wittington | 7 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Jerreth Sterns | 13 receptions, 184 yards, 3 TD |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Chase Brice | 15/23, 317 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 13 carries, 101 yards |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Christian Wells | 4 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD |