Hilltoppers' kick claims SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Hilltop
By Troy Phillips
DALLAS – New year, different stadium, clear skies.
Best of all, Western Michigan and Western Kentucky got the game in, with added thrills to boot.
In a bounce-back year for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, crippling weather didn’t overshadow down-to-the-wire football and tributes to the nation’s first responders.
Western Kentucky true freshman Cory Munson nailed a college career-long 52-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Hilltoppers a 23-20 victory at SMU’s Ford Stadium. Munson’s previous college best was a 48-yarder earlier this season, and 59 in high school.
“I didn’t expect that in my first bowl game of my first year,” Munson said. “It’s amazing I have a coach [Tyson Helton] who has that kind of confidence in me. First of many, I hope.”
In 2018, the First Responder Bowl was cancelled late in first quarter with Boston College leading Boise State 7-0. A lightning-raged stationary rainstorm ruined its ninth edition and first under new title sponsor SERVPRO.
Unencumbered this time by bad elements and relocated from the historic Cotton Bowl, the bowl resumed what otherwise would be its 10th edition. Dating to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl’s previous incarnations, nine completed games are on the books.
The do-over had a number of unexpected turns, including ties of 10-10 (halftime), 17-17 and 20-20. WMU scored all 10 of its first-half points off WKU turnovers.
Munson’s 31-yard field goal with 1:36 to play made it 20-20. The Broncos had time to win it, drove downfield, but WMU quarterback Jon Wassink tripped for a 2-yard loss to force a fourth-and-3. WMU went for it, and Wassink’s incompletion gave it back to WKU with 27 seconds remaining.
With three seconds left and WKU facing a potential 57-yard kick by Munson to win it, Helton opted to toss a Hail Mary and risk overtime at worst.
The final twist saw WMU flagged for too many men on that final play. With all zeroes showing and five more yards marked off, Helton looked at Munson but said nothing.
“He stepped up to the plate and hit a big one,” Helton said of Munson. “We didn’t have any words. I nodded at him and I knew he was going to make it. A true freshman.”
WKU’s Ty Storey finished with 358 yards and two touchdowns passing. Munson’s winner erased ill effects of an earlier interception of Storey by WMU’s Kareem Ali. He grabbed a deflection off a WKU receiver and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown and 10-10 tie.
Munson hit the game-winner, but WKU’s Lucky Jackson was named the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl’s most valuable player after his 17 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown.
“That’s fine with me,” Munson said. “I’ll take the kick and the win.”
“Such a big deal for us,” Jackson said. “We fought for four quarters. This group of brothers came together and stuck together.”