9KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Western Michigan University football team came from behind to down rival Central Michigan 24-21 in front of the largest crowd, 29,299, at Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium since 2015, reclaiming the Victory Cannon trophy Saturday evening.
With the win, WMU also retains the Michigan MAC Trophy.
The Broncos (5-4, 4-1 MAC) trailed 21-14 after CMU freshman quarterback Marcus Beamon connected with Tyson Davis for a 33-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter. WMU responded to cut the lead to 21-17 on a 46-yard field goal from Palmer Domschke, that capped off a 10-play, 48-yard drive.
Central Michigan got the ball back on the kickoff and the Western Michigan defense forced a quick three-and-out to get the ball back on its 30-yard line with 7:00 left to play.
WMU quarterback Broc Lowry moved the ball down the field to the CMU 14. The Broncos had a fourth-and-one and Lowry rushed it up the middle for two yards to get the first down. Incomplete passes bookended a five-yard run and Western Michigan faced a fourth-and-five at the CMU 7 with 2:13 to play. The offense lined up and then called a timeout. After the timeout the offense went back on the field and Lowry rolled out to the right and found Tailique Williams open in the corner of the endzone for the touchdown, giving WMU its first lead of the game at 24-21.
CMU got the ball back but a holding penalty just before the two-minute timeout gave them first and 20 from the 15. On the next play, Chippewa quarterback Joe Labas had his pass tipped by Marcel Tyler and Tyler dove to grab the ball for his first career interception, giving the back to Western Michigan at the CMU 16. From there, Lowry rushed it three times to pick up a first down and the Broncos went into the victory formation to run the clock out.
Lowry finished the game 17-for-27 for 150 yards and one touchdown while also running for 82 yards on 22 carries and another touchdown. Junior running back Jalen Buckley had 68 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown, while Williams had seven catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Western Michigan’s defense held CMU’s rushing attack, ranked first in the MAC at 256.3 yards per game in conference action, to just 55 yards on the day. Overall, Central Michigan was held to 240 total yards and just 103 in the second half. Cornerback Jarviarius Sims and linebacker Sefa Saipaia Jr. led the Broncos with seven tackles. Senior defensive end Nadame Tucker had six tackles and a strip sack.
Central Michigan struck first on its opening drive, going 73 yards in 13 plays and eating up 8:55 on the clock. Nahree Biggins ran it in from the one-yard line to give the Chippewas the early 7-0 lead.
Midway through the second quarter, Tucket strip sacked Labas and Rodney McGraw fell on the ball at the CMU 26. Nine plays later, Lowry ran it in for his eight rushing touchdown of the season, the most by a WMU quarterback since 1977, to tie it up at 7-7.
On the first play of the next drive, Labas connected with Langston Lewis over the middle and Lewis out-raced the Bronco defense for a 77-yard touchdown catch, giving CMU the lead back at 14-7.
WMU had a chance to tie up before the end of the first half, but Lowry fumbled at the goal line to give CMU the ball back with less than a minute to play.
CMU opened the third quarter with the ball, but the Bronco defense force d a three-and-out and WMU took over on its 35. Western Michigan then went on an 11-play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by a nine-yard run by Buckley for the touchdown. The rushing score was Buckley’s second of the season.
The game was the final weekend contest for the Broncos for the rest of the regular season. Western Michigan switches to its #MACtion schedule, opening the mid-week action hosting Ohio Tuesday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m.
(courtesy WMU Athletics)
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