Recap | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery

Head Coach Skip Holtz

On the fact that the home team had won every game of the series entering tonight's game and pulling out the victory on the road:

"We talked about, if we were going to win it was going to take 60 minutes. This game has been a three point game almost every time we've played it. This is the third time we've played in 365 days, like I told the team in the calendar year, this is the third time this game has taken place. We felt like we had to come up here and find a way to win on the road. Like I said, this was championship caliber football. I'm so proud of this team, no one quit or hung their heads."

On J'Mar Smith's interception late in the fourth quarter:

"It was 2nd and 5, three minutes to go, we didn't need the touchdown right then. We could have just thrown the out and make the first down and we're in field goal range. J'Mar Smith felt like he could slip the ball in there in that one-on -one matchup but WKU's corner kind of opened and ran, but these are learning lessons for J'Mar. I felt like he grew up a little bit tonight. As a sophomore for J'Mar to come in here in this environment and never flinch, I thought he did a great job."

On WKU's play:

"I thought WKU did a great job with their defense; I thought Mike White was spectacular tonight. I think Mike Sanford is an excellent coach. I've said this time and time again, this was championship football and it was unfortunate that somebody had to lose - I know losing always stinks but I know there's a lot of joy in winning and that locker room definitely has some of that in it."

Quarterback J'Mar Smith

On first game-winning drive of his career:

"On the road, conference game, we were just trying to get into the driver's seat coming in - we knew we had to win. I'm proud of the guys on this team. We gave WKU a fight the whole game, it was a 60 minute game. We played hard and executed at a high level, it was just little details we made mistakes on, which will be easy to correct."

On the team's final three drives:

"On the interception, I saw man coverage and I tried to give my guy a chance and WKU's guy just went over top and got the ball - I just got to check that guy and that'd be easy to fix. Those other two drives, we just executed and we're able to move the ball and move the chains and were smart as an offense."

Kicker Jonathan Barnes

On his game-winning field goal and J'Mar Smith's performance:

"I tell you, our defense played lights out tonight, especially in the second half. For our offense to come through in the end like they did and get that drive, I don't think they could have had an easier field goal for me to make at the end. That's big time. I think J'Mar Smith is just coming through unbelievably and stepped up and led that offense in the second half in an unbelievable way."

Team's confidence late in the game:

"We never didn't believe that we were going to be able to drive down there - even after that interception down the sideline. I think everyone on our bench was very confident that our defense way going to be able to go out there and get a stop to get the offense back on the field and give us a shot…It's exciting to come out and build confidence for the rest of the year - especially here, it's a tough place to come play on the road as we know."

On the team's final drive:

"As a kicker you always want the ball but I was perfectly fine if the team just went down and scored the touchdown too. Either way we won; I was just ready to get the win and leave. This is my third time up here and to be able to finally go and get back on the plane as the team that won the game is exciting. Either way we got it done was fine with me."