That final score makes Western Kentucky's defense look worse than it was, because the last 7 points came on a kickoff return with no time left. The trouble is that the Tops have been giving up points all fall: 34 to New Mexico State, 35 to Delaware at home, then 51 in Murfreesboro. Jacksonville State shut out that same New Mexico State team 24-0 on the road, which is about as clean a comparison as this league offers.
Look at Jacksonville State's 5-game winning streak and the first 3 wins were close: 23-13 over Middle Tennessee, 27-26 at Kennesaw State, 27-24 over FIU. Only lately have the Gamecocks been winning by a lot, outscoring New Mexico State and Sam Houston 71-14 combined. This is still a team that knows how to win tight games, and it may be a team that has finally figured out how to stop playing them.
Western Kentucky's best stretch came in mid-October, when it beat Missouri State 34-13 at home and won 16-3 at Sam Houston. That defense held the same Bearkats team Jacksonville State just hung 47 on to 3 points, so it's in there somewhere. Saturday, November 14 in Bowling Green should be 49 degrees and clear with an 11 mph wind. That's good football weather, and it won't give either offense an excuse.
The stakes don't match. Jacksonville State is trying to stay perfect in conference play deep into November. Western Kentucky is 3-6 and needs to find something to play for, a week after a rivalry loss that will sting for a while.
