Bowling Green continued its astounding success at Western Kentucky University’s Houchens-Smith Stadium with a 42-7 win over North Hardin Saturday night in the 15th annual Rafferty’s Bowl.
The Purples (1-0) increased their win streak in the bowl to 11 games and pushed its winning streak on Feix Field to 16 contests. Not only did BG once again show how successful it is playing at WKU, but it also moved its streak without a single loss to 28 games and moved its all-time record against the Trojans (0-1) to 5-0.
Bowling Green last suffered a defeat Sept. 4, 2015 in a 45-19 decision at St. Xaiver.
BG jumped out to an early 8-0 lead after needing just two plays to find the end zone, as junior quarterback Beau Buchanan – in his first outing as the Purples’ starter – hit senior wide receiver Ziyon Kenner with a 45-yard pass.
The Purples used a pair of touchdown runs from sophomore running back Vito Tisdale and a short run-in by senior wide receiver Nash Hightower to highlight a 21-point second quarter and take a 29-0 advantage at halftime.
North Hardin wouldn’t be able to tack on its first touchdown until junior quarterback Eric Moore’s 2-yard pass to sophomore Jeremiah Bankhead at the 6:14 mark of the fourth quarter. On the other hand, BG didn’t slow down one bit in the second half, scoring twice more to seal the deal.
Buchanan threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns to make for a solid debut. Alongside the offensive pilot, Hightower and Tisdale each recorded two scores. Kenner finished with 97 yards and a score on six receptions.
Bowling Green also earned strong performances from its defensive unit, as senior outside linebacker Devan Jackson recovered a fumble by Trojan freshman Laveil Wright and retuned it 35 yards for a touchdown. Additionally, junior outside linebacker Miles Smith and junior safety Davis Tomblinson each intercepted Moore and helped set up what-would-be a scoring possessions for the Purples.
After North Hardin stalled at Bowling Green’s 33-yard-line in the game’s opening possession, the Purples quickly went to work.
The first play of BG’s season came with a 22-yard run by Tisdale. Then, on the ensuing play, Buchanan hit Kenner with a 45-yard strike to give the Purples the game’s first score. A successful two-point conversion made it 8-0 at the 7:27 mark of the opening quarter.
Tisdale recorded his first score on an eight-yard run at the 9:41 mark of the second. Purples’ Smith intercepted a pass by Moore on the previous play and Tisdale followed up to push the Purples’ lead to 15-0.
The versatile back struck again at the 5:31 mark of the period with a six-yard run to make it 22-0. Tisdale took a handoff from Buchanan and ran directly into the left corner of the end zone to cap the drive.
Already up big, Tomblinson picked off Moore on a deep pass down the right sideline to give his club the ball back at its own 39. After a few plays by the Purples’ offense, Hightower, out of the wildcat formation, walked in from two-yards out to put BG up 29-0.
The Purples carried their four-touchdown advantage into the locker room at halftime – and didn’t slow down after the break, as it only took Bowling Green 24 seconds to add to its side of the scoreboard in the third quarter.
After Tisdale carried for 15 yards and gave the Purples a 1st and 10 at the 46, Buchanan followed with a bullet to Hightower, who caught it in the middle of the pack and sprinted into the end zone.
Leading 36-0, Jackson recovered Wright’s fumble and ran 35 yards for the score. With the KHSAA state mandated running clock already in force, the Purples were in total control with a 42-0 lead at the end of the period.
North Hardin finally got on the board with Moore’s 2-yard touchdown toss to Bankhead with 6:14 remaining to make it 42-7.
It wouldn’t be a shutout, but Bowling Green kicked off the 2017 campaign in a strong fashion.
Bowling Green will return to action Friday with a 7:30 p.m. (CT) road test at Pleasure Ridge Park in Louisville. North Hardin hosts John Hardin in its home opener Friday, with kickoff also scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
— Sports Insider Tyler Mansfield can be reached at (270) 935-0007. Follow him on Twitter at @_TylerMansfield. —
