W. Kentucky starting RB suspended

Western Kentucky will be without one player for the first half of its game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. as a result of a brawl with Old Dominion.

Conference USA announced Monday that running back Anthony “Ace” Wales will be suspended for the first two quarters of Saturday’s game. Wales was involved in a fight in the third quarter of the Hilltoppers’ eventual 59-24 win over Old Dominion on Saturday, and both benches cleared to join the fray.

Wales leads the Hilltoppers with 739 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 113 carries. Quinton Baker (310 yards on 61 carries) and Marquez Trigg (85 yards on 26 carries) figure to receive the bulk of the first-half carries.

The fight started after WKU quarterback Mike White completed a 4-yard pass to receiver Taywan Taylor and Taylor was pushed out of bounds along the Old Dominion sideline. An unidentified WKU receiver continued to block ODU’s Jamez Brickhouse out of bounds and engaged in shoving among the Monarchs’ bench.

It was mostly pushing and shoving until another unidentified Hilltopper punched ODU’s Christian Byrum so hard it knocked his helmet off. Both benches proceeded to empty.

Officials doled out personal fouls to every player on each team, and ODU’s Jamshyer McUmber was the only player ejected. Byrum was also suspended for the first half of his next game.

“I feel good that both teams did the best job we could at separating things on both sides of the ball,” Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm said Monday. “I think the fact that we were able to continue to play the game and nothing else happened, we shook hands after the game was a positive for all.”

Next game: Western Kentucky at FAU, Saturday, 3:30 p.m., My15 (WTCN, Palm Beach)