Football | October 29, 2016

 

• Western Michigan is ranked inside the top-25 in both the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Poll for the first time in program history. 


• Western Michigan begins the season 7-0 for the first time since 1941, when the team started 8-0. The Broncos defeated Akron 41-0 last Saturday. It marked the first shutout for the Broncos since 2006, also against Akron.


• Western Michigan's 34-10 win over Illinois earlier this season gave the Broncos two wins against B1G opponents for the first time in school history. Western Michigan opened the season with a 22-21 win over Northwestern. 


• Wide receiver Corey Davis is currently the active leading receiver in the FBS with 4,437 yards, a title he ended the 2015 season with. He is currently the all-time MAC receiving record and 568 yards away from the all-time FBS receiving record. 


• Davis leads the FBS in receiving TDs with 11 after scoring two more last week at Akron. He finished with eight catches for 63 yards and the 2 TDs giving him 43 touchdowns for his career, most all-time at Western Michigan and four shy of the MAC career receiving TD record.


• Running back Jarvion Franklin set the Western Michigan program record for single game rushing yards with 281. Franklin became the sixth player in Bronco history to eclipse the 3,000 rushing yard mark. He currently has 3,081 career rushing yards, fifth most in WMU history.


• The Broncos are second in the country in turnover margin at +12. They were the last team in the country to commit a turnover.

ELITE Company
• Western Michigan's 8-0 start has put the program among the elite in the country.

• The Broncos are currently the only team in the country to be at 8-0, joining Alabama.

This Boat is on Fire
• Western Michigan currently has a 10-game winning streak dating back to last season. 

• The Broncos' streak is the longest at WMU since 1940-41 when the team also won 10 straight over the two-year span.

• Overall the Broncos are 15-2 in their last 17 games, the best record at WMU in that stretch since also going 15-2 during a three-year stretch from 1940-42.

• Western Michigan's streak is also the second-longest active win streak in the country. Below are the top-four active win streaks in the country.

School        Current Win Streak
1.     Alabama        19
2.     Western Michigan    10 
3.    Washington    9

Creating Chaos
• Western Michigan created chaos around Central Michigan QB Cooper Rush on Oct. 1, sacking him eight times.

• The eight sacks are the most by the Bronco defense since having nine vs. Ball State on Oct. 21, 2006.

• For the season, Western Michigan has 21 sacks, surpassing its total from all of last year.

Beating the Big Dogs
• Western Michigan beat two B1G opponents in the same season for the first time this year, beating Northwestern and Illinois.

• Below are all the wins for the Broncos over current Power 5 opponents.

Year    Opponent    Score
1917    Michigan State    W, 14-0
1919    Michigan State    W, 21-18
1964    Louisville    W, 10-7
1988    Wisconsin    W, 24-14
1994    Iowa State    W, 23-19
2000    Iowa    W, 27-21
2006    Virginia    W, 17-10
2007    Iowa    W, 28-19
2008    Illinois    W, 23-17
2016    Northwestern    W, 22-21
2016    Illinois    W, 34-10

Building a Winning Tradition
• Western Michigan has now won eight games in each of the last three seasons for the first time in program history.

• With the win last Saturday, the Broncos have 24 wins over the last three seasons. Below are the most wins in a two and three-year span.

Two Years    Wins
1      2015-16    16 
    2014-15    16
       1999-2000    16
4.    2005-06    15
        1997-98    15
5.     14 done 9 times

Three Years    Wins
1.     2014-16    24
2.    1998-2000    23
3.     2006-08    22
       1997-99    22
5.    1988-90    21
       1970-72    21

Hog the Ball
• Western Michigan won the time of possession battle against Eastern Michigan last Saturday, for the sixth time in eight games this season.

• This year Western Michigan is among the top teams in the country in possessing the ball, averaging 33:49, good for 15th in the country.

• Last year, WMU was second in the country only to Stanford with a mark of 34:33.

The Ball is the Program
• Western Michigan was the last team in the country to commit a turnover this season, with its first one coming in the seventh game.

•For the year, the Broncos are +12 in turnover margin, good for second in the country.

• The Broncos have nine interceptions and six fumble recoveries. 

Explosive Offense
• Western Michigan has piled on the points in the first eight games, totaling 355.

• The 355 points includes a 70-point explosion against NCCU which was the most points scored by the Broncos since 1996.

• The 355 point total is the most by a WMU team through its first six games.

• This year's average of 44.4 points per game is the most in the MAC and fourth most in the country.

Pound the Rock
• Against Akron, the Broncos had their best rushing day of the season thus far, totaling 374 yards on the ground.

• Included in that total was Jarvion Franklin's 281 yards, a school record.

• Franklin has ran for 100+ yards in each of his last four games, and is seventh in the country this year with 
• This year the Broncos have improved on the rushing attack, averaging 252.8 yards on the ground through eight games, good for 13th in the country. 

Running to Daylight
• Western Michigan's running game has stood out amongst the entire country the last two seasons. 

• In 2014 Jarvion Franklin took the country by storm with 1,550+ yards and 24 touchdowns en route to earning the MAC Offensive Player of the Year Award and Freshman All-American. His 24 TDs are the third most in a single season in the MAC.

• Last season, Jamauri Bogan made his way into the record book, splitting carries with Franklin and racked up over 1,000 yards and 16 TDs himself. He began the season with another 100+ yard game at Northwestern, finishing with 103 yards on 22 carries.

• In the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, Bogan ran for 216 yards and four TDs as he was named the Offensive MVP of the game.

• Franklin and Bogan's performance marked the first time since 2008-09 that the Broncos have seen 1,000 yard rushers in back-to-back seasons.

• Below are some of the rusing records Franklin and Bogan have set at Western Michigan.

Single Season Rushing TDs
1.    24    Jarvion Franklin, 2014
2.    19    Jerome Persell, 1976
3.    18    Robert Sanford, 2000
4.    16    Jamauri Bogan, 2015

Career Rushing TDs
1.    39    Jerome Persell 1976-78 
2.    36    Jarvion Franklin, 2014-current
3.    30    Robert Sanford, 1997-00
4.    25    Brandon West, 2006-09
    25    Larry Cates, 1971-73
6.    23    Jim Vackaro, 1992-95
    23    Albert Little, 1976-79
8.    22    Roger Lawson, 1969-71
9.    21    Phillip Reed, 2000-03
    21    Jamauri Bogan, 2015-current

3K Club
• Jarvion Franklin became just the sixth player in Western Michigan to go over 3,000 rushing yards in his career. Below are the others who have accomplished the feat.

WMU Career Rushing Yards
1.    4,219    Robert Sanford, 1997-00
2.    4,190    Jerome Persell, 1976-78
3.    3,671    Brandon West, 2006-09
4.    3,341    Shawn Faulkner, 1980-83
5.    3,195    Jarvion Franklin, 2014-pres.
6.    3,045    Jim Vackaro, 1992-95

Emphasis on Special Teams
• Western Michigan has put an emphasis on special teams since Coach Fleck arrived in 2013. 

• The Broncos have had a freshman All-American kick returner in Darius Phillips in 2014.

• Part of the reason for WMU's dominance in the third phase of the game has been special teams coordinator Rob Wenger's ability to focus on just special teams as he is one of just 10 FBS coordinators to have no other responsibilties.

• Below is a list of special teams coordiantors who are not tasked with coaching another position.

Boston College
Florida International
Kansas
Kansas State
Nebraska
San Diego State
Utah State
Washington State
Western Michigan
Wisconsin

Setting a New Standard
• Linebacker Robert Spillane was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season following his career-high 14-tackle performance against Eastern Michigan.

• His 14 tackles are the most by a Bronco since Justin Currie had 15 for Western Michigan in 2013.

• Twice this year, Spillane has come away with interceptions, at Illinois and at home vs. Northern Illinois.

• His stats have had him named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week three times this season, also following his forced fumble at Northwestern and at Illinois.

• For the season he leads the Broncos with 71 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and the two aforementioned interceptions.

Electrifying Returns
• Cornerback Darius Phillips has provided electricity this season, returning a kickoff, punt, and two interceptions for  touchdowns. 

• He is the first player in Western Michigan history to score four non offensive TDs in a season.

• Phillips has recorded two pick-sixes this season, beginning with a 70-yard return vs. Georgia Southern before taking back an 85-yard interception vs. Central Michigan. The 85-yard pick-six is the third of Phillips' career and is the third-longest in the country this season.

• Against Georgia Southern, Phillips returned his third career kickoff for a touchdown, and his second of 100-yards after also doing so against Michigan State last season.

• After earning All-America honors as a kick returner in 2014, Phillips fielded his first punts on Sept. 10 vs. North Carolina Central, returning the second punt of his career 66 yards for the first punt return TD by a Bronco since Greg Jennings in 2004.

• Phillips has earned MAC West Player of the Week honors twice this season following the NC Central and Georgia Southern games.

Airing it Out
• Zach Terrell is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the country, ranking third in the nation in active career passing yards with 10,550.

Career Passing Yards
1.    Cooper Rush, CMU    11,643
2.    Nick Mullens, So. Miss    10,757
3.    Zach Terrell, WMU    10,566
4.    Dane Evans, Tulsa    10,068
5.    Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech    9,513

Light Up the Scoreboard
• Terrell has become proficient at lighting up scoreboards with his 83 career TD passes. Here is where he stands among active QBs.

Career TD Passes
1.    Zach Terrell, WMU    83
    Cooper Rush, CMU    83
3.    Nick Mullens, So. Miss    79
4.    Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech    72
5.    Davis Webb, Cal    68

• Terrell has also moved himself among the elite in MAC history, as he is currently in ninth with his 83 career TD passes. Below is the top 10 all-time in the MAC

Most Touchdown Passes Career:    
1. Dan LeFevour (CMU) 2006-09    102
2. Chad Pennington (Marshall) 1997-99    100
3. Tim Hiller (WMU) 2005, 07-09    99
4. Keith Wenning (BSU) 2010-13    92
5. Byron Lefwich (Marshall) 1999-02    89
6. Tim Lester (WMU) 1996-99    87
7. Bruce Gradkowski (Toledo) 2003-04    85
8. Ben Roethlisberger (Miami) 2001-03    84
9. Zach Terrell, (WMU) 2013-pres.    83
    Cooper Rush (CMU) 2013-pres.    83

Deadly Accurate
• In addition to throwing for many yards, Terrell is also one of the most accurate QBs with a career completion percentage of 65.3, good for fifth among active QBs. Below are the top 10.

Career Completion Percentage
1.    Luke Falk, Washington State    69.3
2.    Greg Ward Jr., Houston    67.8
3.    Deshaun Watson, Clemson    66.6
4.    Brent Stockstill, Middle Tenn.    65.6
5.    Zach Terrell, Western Michigan    65.3
6.    Brandon Silvers, Troy    64.7
7.    Chad Kelley, Ole Miss    64.1
8.    Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech    64.0
9.    Sefo Liufau, Colorado    63.4
10.    Cooper Rush, Central Michigan    62.5

Doing it Efficiently
• Quarterback Zach Terrell is one of the most efficient QBs in the country this season, ranking third in 2016 with a passer efficiency rating of 180.4 Below are the top 5 QB in the country this season

Quarterback, School    2016 Efficiency
1. Logan Woodside, Toledo    200.8
2. Jake Browning, Washington    199.6
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma    194.9
4. Zach Terrell, WMU    183.1
5. Ryan Higgins, Louisiana Tech    173.3

• For his career, Terrell has a career QB efficiency rating of 155.9, ranking eighth nationally. Below are the career efficiency rankings of QBs across the country.

Quarterback, School    Career Efficiency
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma    180.9
2. Seth Russell, Baylor    169.2
3. Logan Woodside, Toledo    162.5
4. Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina    159.4
5. Jake Browning, Washington    158.8
6. Deshaun Watson, Clemson    158.4
7. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State    157.3
8. Zach Terrell, Western Michigan    155.9
9. Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech    154.0
10. Chad Kelley, Ole Miss    152.8

Best in the Program
• Terrell has also made his mark in Western Michigan history, becoming one of the most decordated Bronco QBs.

• He is atop nearly every career QB record. Here is where he stands at WMU across multiple categories.

Career Completion Percentage
1.    .653    Zach Terrell, 2013-current
2.    .633    Alex Carder, 2009-12
3.    .629    Tim Hiller, 2005, 2007-09

Career Passing TDs
1.    99    Tim Hiller, 2005, 2007-09 
2.    87    Tim Lester, 1996-99
3.    83    Zach Terrell, 2013-current
4.    74    Alex Carder, 2009-12

Career Passing Yards
1.    11,329    Tim Hiller, 2005, 2007-09
2.    11,299    Tim Lester, 1996-99
3.    10,566    Zach Terrell, 2013-current
4.    8,886    Alex Carder, 2009-12
5.    8,717      Brad Tayles, 1989-92

Career Completions
1.    1,013    Tim Hiller, 2005, 2007-09
2.    875    Tim Lester, 1996-99
3.    796    Zach Terrell, 2013-current
4.    769    Alex Carder, 2009-12
5.    663       Brad Tayles, 1989-92