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Thursday Night College Football ICYMI

Kyle Kensing
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In case you missed Thursday night’s college football — and, with the start of a new NFL season, you probably did — CFB Huddle’s ICYMI has you covered.

The sole FBS game Thursday was a dandy, with Conference USA favorites Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky going to the wire. The Hilltoppers led wire-to-wire, but had to field an onside kick to preserve their 41-38 win.

Quarterback Brandon Doughty had his worst game of 2014 against the Bulldogs, but regrouped to light them up for 441 yards Thursday.

As good as Doughty on the other end was Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon. Dixon rushed for 168 yards, two touchdowns and caught 51 passes for another 41 yards.

If total distance ran went into the box score, Dixon would undoubtedly have logged more yardage on this reception alone.

Dixon and Doughty are two of the best at their respective positions in all of college football. For those who ventured away from the NFL Thursday and checked out FS1, they got to see a real treat.

Was this indeed a preview of the C-USA Championship Game — Marshall and Rice will have input on that front — I’m already chopping at the bit for the sequel.

In the meantime, Western Kentucky put itself on an inside track for the Group of Five’s New Year’s Six bid — albeit very early. The Hilltoppers now boast a win against an SEC opponent, a possible conference championship and next week, they face the Big Ten’s Indiana Hoosiers.

That’s certainly a winnable game. And, given the uptempo style the Hoosiers employ, it’s likely to exceed 100 points total.

Southern’s Willie Quinn Shines

Southern blasted Mississippi Valley State in both teams’ SWAC opener Thursday, and the story for the Jaguars was all Willie Quinn.

Quinn scored touchdowns three different ways with the unlikely combo of punt return, kickoff return and pass.

His punt returned to the house ran the full gamut of juke possibilities.

Seriously, watch it a few times. He splits defenders, stiff-arms one, side-steps, spins and OF COURSE caps it off with a flip into the end zone.

Quinn has the early contender for college football Play of the Year.

Div. III Maryville Beats D-I ETSU

East Tennessee State’s return to football is off to a rough start. After suffering a blowout loss last Thursday to newbie Kennesaw State, the Buccaneers lost this week to Div. III Maryville, 28-21.

ETSU may be new to the scene, but it’s still a Div. I college football program. Such wins are rare for D-3 programs, so dancing is absolutely approved in this circumstance.

Per MCScots.com, seven of the first eight possessions in the second half ended in punts. Maryville broke through on a 35-yard swing pass.

ETSU faces Charleston Southern next week, another likely loss, before getting another crack at a win against a D-III opponent. Emory & Henry visits Johnson City on Sept. 26, the second of three sub-Div. I programs on the Buccaneers’ schedule.

A loss in that one might doom ETSU’s first season since 2003 to a goose egg.

UT-Martin Completes The Rare 70-70 Turnaround

Two weeks into the 2015 season, the difference between UT-Martin’s average margin of victory and average margin of defeat is 135 points.

The Skyhawks were sacrificial lambs to Ole Miss in Week 1, losing 76-3. They returned the favor to NAIA Bethel Thursday, 72-10.

Is it too late for ETSU to get Bethel on its schedule?

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