Murray State
Western Kentucky
Werner Returns Second Interception for Touchdown in Racers Loss at Western Kentucky
9/20/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
Murray State senior safety Will Werner returned his second interception for a touchdown on the season, but it was not enough as the Racers could not over come four first half turnovers in falling 50-9 to Western Kentucky in the final non-conference game of the season.
"I had been roaming the middle of the field and they had completed one seam ball and Harry (McCall) made a great play on another so I knew they were going to try and throw it again," said Werner. "He kept trying to look me off and I wasn't going to let it happen a third time.
"It was green grass. You just kick it in to high gear and just try not to get caught."
The Hilltoppers were able to get points on their opening possession as they converted a 38-yard pass play on the first play from scrimmage. The MSU defense would limit the damage and as they only gave up 13 yards on the next eight plays and forced a field-goal attempt as Tyler Sinclair came through the line for a sack. Tanner Siewart finished the drive by connecting on the 30-yard field goal.
WKU took advantage of a Racer mistake on the ensuing drive as Ryan Beard intercepted a pass and set the Hilltoppers up in MSU territory. WKU moved the ball down the field and punched it in on a Jared Johnson two-yard touchdown run.
The Toppers added to the lead early in the second quarter as they intercepted their second pass of the game and Siewart connected on his second field goal of the first half, this time from 42 yards.
The Racers defense got the team on the board on the next WKU possession when Werner intercepted a pass and outran everybody down the left sideline for 54 yard interception return for a touchdown. It was the third defensive touchdown this season for MSU and the second interception return for a touchdown for Werner this season.
Werner becomes the first Racer to return at least two interceptions for touchdowns in the same season since All-American William Hampton returned four interceptions for touchdowns in 1995.
WKU was able to extend their lead as David Wolke rumbled in from two yards out and Blake Boyd intercepted a pass and ran it in from 25 yards out.
The Racers were able to get points on their second drive of the second half as Chris Franklin hit Daniel Ard on a 26 yard completion down the left sideline on fourth-and-five. MSU was not able to get the ball in the endzone, but did get three points Kienan Cullen booted a 24-yard field goal.
"We just have to finish," said defensive coordinator Rich Nagy. "Offensively we need to finish drives and defensively we need to tackle. When we learn how to finish we are going to be a good football team."
Franklin finished the game by going 20-for-40 for 228 yards and four interceptions. Patrick Robertson had his biggest game as a Racer as he hauled in nine passes for 67 yards.
The Racers open Ohio Valley Conference play on Sept. 27 when they play host to rival UT Martin at 6 p.m. at Stewart Stadium.
