Tops have short week to prep for Blue Hens
Published 3:18 pm Tuesday, September 30, 2025
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Western Kentucky running back La’Vell Wright (11) celebrates with his teammates after a touchdown run against Nevada on Sept. 20 at Houchens-Smith Stadium. WKU beat Nevada 31-16. (JAMES KENNEY / AP)
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Nevada wide receiver Jordan Brown (1) complains while Western Kentucky defensive back Nazir Ward (6) celebrates after Ward broke up a pass on Sept. 20 at Houchens-Smith Stadium. Ward was called for interference on the play. WKU beat Nevada 31-16. (JAMES KENNEY / AP)
Western Kentucky faces another road challenge Friday night, this time on short rest against a well-rested opponent.
WKU (4-1 overall, 2-0 Conference USA) faces a six-day turnaround when it suits up for Friday night’s matchup against CUSA newcomer Delaware at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. The Blue Hens, in contrast, had a bye week and haven’t played a game since beating FIU 38-16 on Sept. 20 in Miami.
But with October arriving on the calendar, so too does CUSA’s mid-week football schedule designed to gain more national exposure for the league. That means odd dates like Friday’s 6 p.m. CT matchup, to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
“We’re blessed to play this game and every opportunity that we get to go out there and play this great game – I’ll make that trade-off every single time,” WKU coach Tyson Helton said. “Friday night, two good football teams playing, national exposure on television, big conference game – that’s what you play football for. So if it’s a short week, so be it – it’s a short week.”
Coming off a 27-22 road win Saturday at Missouri State, the Tops will have a chance to rest after Friday’s game against Delaware (3-1, 1-0 CUSA) with the next game set for Oct. 14 – a Tuesday night – against FIU at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
Getting to that reprieve means going through the Blue Hens first. Delaware, in its first season as a FBS program after making the transition from a traditionally successful FCS-level school, is off to a strong start with wins against Delaware State, UConn and FIU and a lone loss on the road at Colorado.
“Love that’s it’s on a Friday – you know, the exposure that both teams will get playing on Friday will be great,” Helton said. “And so that’s awesome. Very good football team that we’re about to play in Delaware. I have tremendous respect for them and their coaching staff.”
The Blue Hens rank second in CUSA in scoring this season averaging 31 points per game – the Tops are first at 35 points per outing. Blue Hens quarterback Nick Minicucci is second in passing in the league at 264.5 yards per game, along with eight TD passes – the Tops’ Maverick McIvor is the top-ranked passer at 294.8 yards per game along with 11 touchdowns.
Little wonder then that both coaches see similarities between the two offenses.
Delaware also features a strong running game, led by Jo Silver – he’s averaged a whopping 7.2 yards per carry (45 rushes for 326 yards and three TDs).
“That guy runs like a madman, so our hands are full this week,” WKU co-defensive coordinator Davis Merritt said said of Silver. “And again, another quarterback who can beat you with his arm but also extend plays with his legs. That a whole other headache in and of itself.”
The Tops have also seen improvements with their run game, particularly over the last two weeks. Graduate senior running back La’Vell Wright has shined in the second half of back-to-back wins against Nevada and Missouri State as WKU has found using a direct snap to the powerful Kentucky native has been effective. Wright has scored two touchdowns in each of the last two wins.
“I think it has evolved,” WKU offensive coordinator Rick Bowie said of the Tops’ run game. “There’s a natural advantage for a defense – when we say it’s 11-on-9 at times when you have a quarterback and a ball carrier and they have 11 tacklers. When you eliminate the quarterback – metaphorically – and you snap it directly to the running back, you try to change the math by one. In short-yardage situations, sometimes that can give you an advantage.”
Delaware coach Ryan Carty expects to be facing one of the best teams in CUSA and particularly dangerous offense when the Hilltoppers come to town for the first time since 1981 – Delaware won both all-time matchups in 1981-82).
“They’ve been very consistent with it, you know that from afar,” Carty said. “You don’t have to be in the conference to know that Western Kentucky was going to throw up some points.
” … The challenge is to have our eyes in the right spot. The challenge is to run to the ball and tackle well.”
Helton said Delaware will give his offense a different look and a new set of challenges.
“Defensively, they’re very unique,” Helton said. “They’re a three high-safety defense with a middle runner in the safety position, so he can play the run and the pass. That’s always hard to deal with. So we’ll have to be very, very good about our schemes and what we do.”
WKU has been particularly solid in point prevention this season. Opponents are just 6-of-16 in the red zone on touchdowns (38%) and 13-of-16 in overall scoring in the red zone (81%). The Tops have been much better on offense, scoring TDS at a 77% clip (17-of-22) and scoring overall (20-of-22, 91%) from the 20-yard line to the goal line.
That’s a positive trend Helton wants to see continue, although he still sees room for improvement from his own offense in red-zone opportunities.
“When that ball hits the plus-20 and you get it in the red zone, keep them out of the end zone,” Helton said. “Our defense has done a great job of that. It’s about points and not allowing them to score touchdowns – make them kick the football. And we’ve been able to do that, which takes some of the pressure off the offense.”
About Jeff Nations
Sports Editor, Bowling Green Daily News
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