Western Kentucky Dominates North Alabama 55-6 in Week 1
Western Kentucky overwhelmed North Alabama 55-6 in Week 1 play. The Hilltoppers controlled the contest from start to finish, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and exploding for 28 in the second quarter to build an insurmountable lead.
WKU's offense was particularly dominant in the second quarter, with quarterback Maverick McIvor connecting on three touchdown passes. McIvor threw a 78-yard TD to K.D. Hutchinson, followed by a 20-yard score to Jairus Mack and a 14-yard touchdown to Matthew Henry. John Cannon converted all extra points.
North Alabama managed only a field goal in the opening quarter and was held scoreless for the remainder of the game. Destin Wade led the Lions' ground attack, including a 22-yard run in the third quarter, but the offense never found rhythm against the Hilltoppers' defense.
WKU added three points in the third quarter and 10 more in the fourth to cruise to victory. The home team covered the 27.5-point spread with ease. Rodney Tisdale Jr. led WKU's passing attack with 94 yards, while Quincy Burroughs had 9 receptions and La'Vell Wright rushed 9 times.
AI-generated recap · Aug 23, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Alabama | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
 Western Kentucky | 14 | 28 | 3 | 10 | 55 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | North Alabama | Western Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 16-35 | 30-39 |
| Pass Yards | 105 | 399 |
| Rush Yards | 153 | 165 |
| Total Yards | 258 | 564 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| 3rd Down | 5-17 | 5-12 |
| Penalties | 7-80 | 12-130 |
| Possession | 29:49 | 30:11 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Marvis Parrish run for 1 yd to the WKU 26
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Moussa Barry for 6 yds to the WKU 32
Maverick McIvor pass incomplete to Matthew Henry
Cole Maynard punt for 54 yds
Marvis Parrish run for a loss of 4 yards to the UNA 17
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Moussa Barry for 4 yds to the UNA 13
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Noah Meyers for 12 yds to the UNA 1 for a 1ST down
George Hart III run for 1 yd for a TD (John Cannon KICK)
Jayvian Allen run for 3 yds to the UNA 26
Jayvian Allen run for a loss of 6 yards to the UNA 20
Ari Patu pass complete to Jayvian Allen for 13 yds to the UNA 33 for a 1ST down
Ari Patu pass complete to Kaleb Heatherly for 5 yds to the UNA 38
Ari Patu run for 3 yds to the UNA 41
Jalyn Daniels run for 6 yds to the WKU 47 for a 1ST down Western Kentucky Penalty, Face Mask (15 yards) (Kent Robinson) to the WKU 38 for a 1ST down
Ari Patu pass complete to KJ Fields for 4 yds to the WKU 34
Ari Patu run for 2 yds to the WKU 32
Jayvian Allen run for 24 yds to the WKU 8 for a 1ST down
Ari Patu pass complete to Kaleb Heatherly for no gain to the WKU 8
Roderick Taylor Jr. run for 1 yd to the WKU 7
Ari Patu pass incomplete to Tanaka Scott
Ian Vachon 25 yd FG GOOD
Maverick McIvor pass incomplete to Moussa Barry
Marvis Parrish run for no gain to the WKU 25
Maverick McIvor pass incomplete to Moussa Barry
Cole Maynard punt for 55 yds
KJ Fields run for 14 yds to the UNA 34 for a 1ST down
(04:31) No Huddle-Shotgun Patu,Ari pass incomplete deep left to Scott,Tanaka thrown to WKU43 PENALTY WKU Pass Interference (Robinson,Kent) 15 yards from UNA34 to UNA49, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jalyn Daniels run for 7 yds to the WKU 44
Ari Patu pass complete to Justin Pegues for 24 yds to the WKU 20 for a 1ST down
Ari Patu pass incomplete to Jayvian Allen
Ari Patu run for 6 yds to the WKU 14
(02:44) No Huddle-Shotgun Patu,Ari pass complete short left to Pegues,Justin caught at WKU09, for 8 yards to the WKU06 (Mack,Jaavan) PENALTY UNA Pass Interference (Fields,KJ) 15 yards from WKU14 to WKU29. NO PLAY.
Ari Patu pass incomplete to Justin Pegues
Ian Vachon 47 yd FG GOOD
Jairus Mack run for 25 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Jairus Mack for 5 yds to the UNA 45
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Kelby Williams for 25 yds to the UNA 20 for a 1ST down
George Hart III run for 11 yds to the UNA 9 for a 1ST down
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Quincy Burroughs for 9 yds for a TD (John Cannon KICK)
Jack Cassidy kickoff for 64 yds , Justin Pegues return for 10 yds to the UNA 11
Ari Patu pass complete to Justin Pegues for 7 yds to the UNA 18
Ari Patu pass complete to Justin Pegues for 14 yds to the UNA 32 for a 1ST down
Roderick Taylor Jr. run for 1 yd to the UNA 33
Ari Patu run for 6 yds to the UNA 39
Ari Patu run for 13 yds to the WKU 48 for a 1ST down
(13:14) No Huddle-Shotgun Patu,Ari pass complete short left to Pegues,Justin caught at WKU48, for 4 yards to the WKU44 (Malotumau,Mackavelli; Eugene Jr.,Jai) PENALTY UNA Holding 10 yards from WKU48 to UNA42. NO PLAY.
Ari Patu pass incomplete to Tanaka Scott
Jalen Fletcher run for 2 yds to the UNA 44
Ari Patu sacked by Harper Holloman for a loss of 10 yards to the UNA 34
Adam Watford punt for 53 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the WKU 28 , Jairus Mack returns for 10 yds to the WKU 44 North Alabama Penalty, Illegal Formation (Justin Pegues) to the WKU 28
Maverick McIvor pass complete to K.D. Hutchinson for 7 yds to the WKU 35
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Matthew Henry for 27 yds to the UNA 38 for a 1ST down
Cameron Flowers run for 1 yd to the UNA 37
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Kelby Williams for 10 yds to the UNA 27 for a 1ST down
Maverick McIvor pass incomplete to Moussa Barry
Maverick McIvor run for 7 yds to the UNA 20
Maverick McIvor pass incomplete to Justin Wolf
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Jairus Mack for 20 yds for a TD (John Cannon KICK)
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Tanaka Scott
Western Kentucky Penalty, Personal Foul (15 Yards) to the UNA 40 for a 1ST down
Jayvian Allen run for a loss of 3 yards to the UNA 37 Jayvian Allen fumbled, recovered by UNA Jayvian Allen
Ari Patu pass complete to Tanaka Scott for 5 yds to the UNA 42
Ari Patu sacked by Dominic Oliver for a loss of 12 yards to the UNA 30
Adam Watford punt for 48 yds
Maverick McIvor pass complete to K.D. Hutchinson for 78 yds for a TD (John Cannon KICK)
Ari Patu pass incomplete to KJ Fields
Jayvian Allen run for 1 yd to the UNA 26
Ari Patu pass complete to Justin Pegues for 4 yds to the UNA 30
Adam Watford punt for 34 yds, fair catch by Jairus Mack at the WKU 36
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Marvis Parrish for 14 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Marvis Parrish run for 22 yds to the UNA 28 for a 1ST down
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Cameron Flowers for 1 yd to the UNA 27
PENALTY WKU Ineligible Downfield on Pass (Collins Jr.,Melvin) 5 yards from UNA27 to UNA32. NO PLAY.
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Cameron Flowers for 20 yds to the UNA 12 for a 1ST down
Maverick McIvor pass complete to K.D. Hutchinson for 12 yds for a TD (John Cannon KICK)
Jayvian Allen run for 3 yds to the UNA 28
Ari Patu pass incomplete to Kaleb Heatherly
Ari Patu run for a loss of 3 yards to the UNA 25
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Noah Gregg
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Noah Meyers for 1 yd to the UNA 24
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Noah Meyers for 8 yds to the UNA 16
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Noah Meyers for 2 yds to the UNA 14 for a 1ST down
Maverick McIvor pass complete to George Hart III for no gain to the UNA 14
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Matthew Henry for 14 yds for a TD (John Cannon KICK)
Ari Patu pass complete to Kaleb Heatherly for 7 yds to the UNA 32
Ari Patu run for 2 yds to the UNA 34
Ari Patu pass incomplete to Jayvian Allen
Adam Watford punt for 66 yds for a touchback
M. McIvor takes a knee
End of 2nd Quarter
Jayvian Allen run for 3 yds to the UNA 28
Ari Patu run for 25 yds to the WKU 47 for a 1ST down
Jayvian Allen run for 2 yds to the WKU 45
Ari Patu pass complete to Kaleb Heatherly for 3 yds to the WKU 42
Ari Patu pass incomplete to Justin Pegues
Ari Patu punt for 35 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the WKU 7
Rodney Tisdale Jr. pass complete to Isaiah Myers for 22 yds to the UNA 45 for a 1ST down
Jaden McGill run for 9 yds to the UNA 36
Jaden McGill run for 4 yds to the UNA 32 for a 1ST down
Marvin Sims run for 14 yds to the UNA 18 for a 1ST down
Jaden McGill run for 5 yds to the UNA 13
Jaden McGill run for 5 yds to the UNA 8 for a 1ST down
Rodney Tisdale Jr. pass incomplete to Marvin Sims
Rodney Tisdale Jr. pass complete to Marvin Sims for 8 yds for a TD (John Cannon KICK)
Maverick McIvor pass incomplete to Matthew Henry
La'Vell Wright run for no gain to the WKU 7
La'Vell Wright run for 9 yds to the WKU 16
Cole Maynard punt for 52 yds , Justin Pegues returns for no gain to the UNA 27
Jalyn Daniels run for 10 yds to the UNA 37 for a 1ST down
Jalyn Daniels run for 6 yds to the UNA 43
Jayvian Allen run for 2 yds to the UNA 45
Ari Patu pass incomplete to Justin Pegues
(09:27) No Huddle-Shotgun Patu,Ari pass complete short left to Pegues,Justin caught at UNA48, for 4 yards to the UNA49 (Emery,Jalen) PENALTY UNA Pass Interference (Fields,KJ) 15 yards from UNA45 to UNA30. NO PLAY.
Adam Watford punt for 30 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the WKU 40
George Hart III run for 2 yds to the WKU 42
Maverick McIvor pass complete to K.D. Hutchinson for 7 yds to the WKU 49
George Hart III run for 3 yds to the UNA 48 for a 1ST down
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Kelby Williams for 9 yds to the UNA 39
Maverick McIvor pass complete to K.D. Hutchinson for 9 yds to the UNA 30 for a 1ST down
Maverick McIvor pass complete to Kelby Williams for 5 yds to the UNA 25
Maverick McIvor pass incomplete to George Hart III
George Hart III run for 2 yds to the UNA 23
PENALTY WKU False Start (Jackson,Marshall) 5 yards from UNA23 to UNA28. NO PLAY.
John Cannon 46 yd FG GOOD
Destin Wade pass complete to Justin Pegues for 3 yds to the UNA 28
Destin Wade pass complete to Christian Burkhalter for 7 yds to the UNA 35 for a 1ST down
Destin Wade run for 4 yds to the UNA 39
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Tanaka Scott
Destin Wade run for 22 yds to the WKU 39 for a 1ST down
Destin Wade pass complete to KJ Fields for 6 yds to the WKU 33
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Justin Pegues
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Tanaka Scott
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Christian Burkhalter
Destin Wade run for no gain to the UNA 25
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Tanaka Scott
Destin Wade run for 12 yds to the UNA 37 for a 1ST down
Destin Wade pass complete to LT Sanders for 2 yds to the UNA 35
(12:53) No Huddle-Shotgun Wade,Destin pass incomplete deep left to Scott,Tanaka thrown to WKU37 PENALTY WKU Pass Interference (Flowers,Dylan) 15 yards from UNA35 to UNA50, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Azariah Fletcher
Western Kentucky Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Robby Harrison) to the WKU 30 for a 1ST down
Destin Wade pass incomplete to Azariah Fletcher
LT Sanders run for 6 yds to the WKU 24
Destin Wade pass incomplete to LT Sanders
Destin Wade run for a loss of 4 yards to the WKU 28
Jalen Hampton run for 6 yds to the WKU 34
Jalen Hampton run for 6 yds to the WKU 40 for a 1ST down
Rodney Tisdale Jr. pass complete to Jaleel Walker for 20 yds to the UNA 40 for a 1ST down
Jalen Hampton run for 4 yds to the UNA 36
Rodney Tisdale Jr. run for 3 yds to the UNA 33
Rodney Tisdale Jr. run for 4 yds to the UNA 29 for a 1ST down
(08:21) No Huddle-Shotgun Tisdale Jr.,Rodney pass incomplete short left to Walker,Jaleel thrown to UNA10 PENALTY UNA Pass Interference (Jordan,Michael) 15 yards from UNA29 to UNA14, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jalen Hampton run for 2 yds to the UNA 12
(07:55) No Huddle-Shotgun Hampton,Jalen rush left for 3 yards gain to the UNA09 (Glover,Leo) PENALTY WKU Holding (West,Jackson) 10 yards from UNA12 to UNA22. NO PLAY.
(07:31) No Huddle-Shotgun Tisdale Jr.,Rodney pass incomplete short left to Walker,Jaleel thrown to UNA09 PENALTY WKU Holding (Collins Jr.,Melvin) 10 yards from UNA22 to UNA32. NO PLAY.
PENALTY WKU False Start (Jackson,Jemeil) 5 yards from UNA32 to UNA37. NO PLAY.
Rodney Tisdale Jr. pass complete to Jaden McGill for 12 yds to the UNA 25
Rodney Tisdale Jr. pass incomplete to Marvin Sims
John Cannon 43 yd FG GOOD
LT Sanders run for 2 yds to the UNA 27
Jalen Fletcher run for a loss of 1 yard to the UNA 26
DC Tabscott pass incomplete to Kaden Cooper
Adam Watford punt for 44 yds, fair catch by Jairus Mack at the WKU 30
(04:58) No Huddle-Shotgun McGill,Jaden rush middle for 12 yards gain to the WKU42 (Glover,Leo; Young,Anthony) PENALTY WKU Holding (Collins Jr.,Melvin) 10 yards from WKU30 to WKU20. NO PLAY.
Jaden McGill run for 3 yds to the WKU 23
(04:13) No Huddle-Shotgun Tisdale Jr.,Rodney pass incomplete deep left to Walker,Jaleel thrown to UNA47 PENALTY UNA Offside (Colbert,E.J.) 5 yards from WKU23 to WKU28. NO PLAY.
North Alabama Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Bishop Burkhalter) to the UNA 46 for a 1ST down
Jaden McGill run for 4 yds to the UNA 42
Jaden McGill run for 2 yds to the UNA 40
Rodney Tisdale Jr. pass complete to Isaiah Myers for 21 yds to the UNA 19 for a 1ST down
Jalen Hampton run for no gain to the UNA 19
Jalen Hampton run for no gain to the UNA 19
(01:11) Shotgun Hampton,Jalen rush right for 11 yards gain to the UNA08 (Glover,Leo; Ingram,Jyheam) PENALTY WKU Holding (Collins Jr.,Melvin) 10 yards from UNA19 to UNA29. NO PLAY.
Jaden McGill run for 15 yds to the UNA 14
North Alabama Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (Demarcious Robinson) to the UNA 15
North Alabama Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (Demarcious Robinson) to the UNA 15
Anthony Young pass incomplete to Amarie Rogers
Kingston Lowe run for 4 yds to the UNA 19