Memphis vs. Western Kentucky: Score and Reaction for 2016 Boca Raton Bowl

Western Kentucky came out of a Boca Raton Bowl shootout against Memphis with a 51-31 victory on Tuesday night from FAU Stadium.

The teams combined for 1,089 yards of total offense, with Western Kentucky gaining the majority with 598. 

It was led by running back Anthony Wales, who rushed for 245 yards and three touchdowns, and quarterback Mike White's 336 passing yards and three scores.

The duo put up more than enough to get by Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson, who put on a strong 372-yard, four-touchdown performance despite the loss.

This game had every indication of being a high-scoring affair. Heading into Tuesday night, Western Kentucky ranked second in the nation by averaging 45.1 points per game. Memphis wasn't too far behind in 17th with 39.5 points per game. 

There was a game's worth of scoring in just one half alone, as the teams combined for 45 points and 613 yards in the opening 30 minutes.

However, it was Western Kentucky that held a 28-17 halftime advantage thanks to White and Wales. 

After Ferguson hit Tony Pollard with a screen pass that went for a 45-yard, opening-drive Memphis touchdown, the Hilltoppers outscored the Tigers 21-3 over the next 14 minutes. 

White hit Stevie Donatell with a four-yard touchdown pass before a backward pass to offensive tackle Forrest Lamp allowed the big man to romp in from nine yards out.

It had WKU Football imploring a prestigious trophy for collegiate offensive linemen to take a look at Lamp's athleticism:  

The Western Kentucky quarterback picked up his second passing touchdown of the day when he connected with Nicholas Norris for a 37-yard score to go up 21-10. 

A second touchdown pass from Ferguson was quickly answered by Western Kentucky when Wales rumbled in from two yards out with 2:16 left in the first half.

It capped off an opening two quarters in which Wales went off for 144 yards and that one score. He got a lot of those yards on a fake-kneel play that resulted in a 53-yard gain, via NCAA Football: , via NCAA Football: 

Western Kentucky didn't slow down either in the second half, scoring two straight touchdowns in the third quarter to blow the game open. 

White picked up a third passing touchdown when he hooked up with Taywan Taylor for a 41-yard score just 1:36 into the second half. Taylor carried Western Kentucky's receivers with nine catches for 144 yards. 

Less than six minutes later, Wales scored again with a three-yard rush as he continued to make his claim as one of the nation's best rushers, via ESPN Stats & Info:

Memphis didn't go away despite trailing by as much as 24 in the second half. 

Ferguson connected with his favorite target, Anthony Miller, twice for touchdowns to bring it back to within 13 with 8:47 left. 

Miller led all receivers on the night with 11 receptions for 151 yards.

But Wales' third touchdown with 2:18 remaining iced the game and the win for Western Kentucky.

What made the Hilltoppers' performance even more impressive was that it came under interim head coach Nick Holt, who was standing in for Jeff Brohm after he was hired by Purdue. 

This is only the program's 10th season in the FBS and its third in Conference USA. But in each of those years in its new conference, Western Kentucky has come away with a bowl victory, as it has developed into a solid "Group of Five" school. 

Postgame Reaction

Holt could not stop gushing about his team, no matter how temporary he has it, after the win, via Brad Stephens of the Bowling Green Daily News:

And he made it clear just how much he appreciates Western Kentucky, via Chad Bishop of WBKO-TV:

However, that was his final game as Hilltoppers head coach, as the program hired Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Samford to the position on Dec. 14. 

While he loves being a Hilltopper, Holt's brief performance as a head coach could be seen as an audition to other programs, as his name could be floated around head coaching vacancies in the future.