Willie Taggart gets first win of season for Western Kentucky

Taggart's Western Kentucky Hilltoppers got their first victory of the season before a national television audience Thursday night when they edged Middle Tennessee 36-33 in double overtime.

WKU got the winning points when Kuwaun Jakes connected on a 7 yard TD pass to Bobby Rainey. On the previous possession of the second overtime period Middle Tennessee went ahead 33-30 on a 23-yard field goal.

It was fulfilling victory for Taggart, the former Manatee High great who took over the program last year after it had two consecutive winless seasons. He coached the Hilltoppers to a 2-10 record and was hoping to get off to a better start this year, but WKU lost its first four games.

"I told our team heading into overtime that this is when big-time football teams step up, and if they wanted this win to go out and get it," Taggart said. "For our young team to come into a hostile environment and fight through adversity, it can be a big confidence booster moving forward. I'm really proud of these guys and really happy to get this win for Hilltopper nation."

The Hilltoppers took a 23-16 lead when Sarasota Riverview product John Evans returned a kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown with 9:10 left in regulation.

Boe Brand, a true freshman from Southeast, caught two passes for 29 yards, including a 24-yard reception, to help the Hilltoppers.

Braden River's Casseus gets offer from WKU

Only in America? ___Or perhaps only in Manatee County can a high school football player get a Division I scholarship offer without ever starting a game at the varsity level.

But it can happen, especially when you have two college football coaches who know so much about Manatee County in Western Kentucky's Ray Woodie and head coach Willie Taggart.

And especially if the young man happens to be 6-7, 270 pounds.

That is the situation for Braden River lineman Jeff Casseus, who will be heading into senior season in 2011.

Casseus is more known for exploits on the basketball court, where he helped Braden River win its first boys district title last season. He will likely play offensive line for the Pirates, but could see time on the defensive line.

There doesn't seem to be much debate that his future is a lot brighter in football. And Woodie agreed with that when he offered Casseus a full ride scholarship this year.