And when the game does kick off, all eyes  especially those of Western defenders are likely to be on Fuente. The senior was a Walter Payton Award finalist last year after completing 220 of 395 passes (55.7 percent) for 2,895 yards and 23 touchdowns. This season, Fuente leads a Murray State offense that ranks third in the nation in passing. Fuente (65-for-113, 989 yards, five touchdowns) ranks fourth nationally in total offense at 332.7 passing yards per contest.

Considering company that includes current Heisman Trophy candidate Chris Redman of the University of Louisville, saying Murray States Justin Fuente was the best quarterback Westerns football team saw last season might be a stretch. But no one opponent all season put a hurting on the Hilltoppers like Fuente did in the Racers 36-31 victory on that September night last year. A transfer from Oklahoma, where he started for the better part of two seasons, Fuente completed a school-record 33 of 51 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns in the Racers victory. He also won a fan in Hilltopper head coach Jack Harbaugh. He did some things youd expect from a veteran quarterback, Harbaugh said. He did a great job of reading coverages and changing plays at the line of scrimmage. … I think hell have the opportunity of playing at the next level one day. Tonight, Fuente will get his first opportunity to play at L.T. Smith Stadium. The Racers (1-2 overall, 1-0 Ohio Valley Conference) and Hilltoppers (3-1, 2-0) will kick off their annual battle for The Red Belt at 7 p.m.And when the game does kick off, all eyes  especially those of Western defenders are likely to be on Fuente. The senior was a Walter Payton Award finalist last year after completing 220 of 395 passes (55.7 percent) for 2,895 yards and 23 touchdowns. This season, Fuente leads a Murray State offense that ranks third in the nation in passing. Fuente (65-for-113, 989 yards, five touchdowns) ranks fourth nationally in total offense at 332.7 passing yards per contest. Fuentes favorite receiving targets Terrance Tillman and Joe Perez  rank 1-2 in the OVC in receptions and receiving yards per game. Justin comes up big for us every week, Murray State coach Denver Johnson. Its the other 10 that dont give him too much help sometimes. But our offense has been fairly consistent so far this season. The Racers passing attack will be the first big test this season for a Hilltopper secondary that features two true freshmen (Bobby Sippio and Mel Mitchell), a sophomore (Joseph Jefferson) and a junior (Alan Ogletree) playing his first season in the defensive backfield. Ogletree relishes the challenge that unit will receive tonight. Im just part of the personnel, Ogletree said. The coaches put is in the right spots on the field to be successful. … The pressure in always on the defense. Added Harbaugh: This is a test our young kids need. Its not something well shy away from. Hopefully, our young kids will do a good job. Offensively, Harbaugh will finally be able to counter with his No. 1 quarterback. Donte Pimpleton has missed all but one play in Westerns last three games with a partially torn posterior collateral ligament in his left knee. Pimpleton will start tonight and look to take advantage of a Murray State defense that ranks among the worst in several OVC categories  partially because of losses to I-A foe Wisconsin (49-10) and Southern Illinois (58-51). The Racers rebounded for a 45-18 win over Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 18.Here comes the tough part of our schedule, Pimpleton said. With it being Murray, its also a rivalry game. We owe them for last year, so we need to go out on our field and prove something and see where we stand with the rest of the conference. Personally, I think we stand up there with the best of them.