Postgame Notes
KENT, Ohio – No. 14 ranked Western Michigan fell behind early 14-0 but dug in to post a 37-21 victory on the road at Kent State Tuesday. The win gave the undefeated Broncos (10-0, 6-0 MAC) their first 10-win season in 108 years of football.
 
WMU was able to pull away behind 329 yards rushing behind backs Jarvion Franklin and Fabian Johnson, who both rushed for over 100 yards in the game.
 
How it happened:
Kent State returned a fumble for a touchdown on WMU's first play from scrimmage and added another touchdown in the first quarter to jump on top 14-0. A pair of Butch Hampton field goals (27 & 23 yards) and a two-yard touchdown run by Davon Tucker helped the Broncos cut the deficit to one at the half, 14-13. Caleb Bailey intercepted a pass that slipped out of Kent State quarterback Nick Holley's hands to set up Hampton's final field goal at the end of the half.
 
Western Michigan took its first lead in the third quarter, using a 20-play, 90-yard drive, in which it ran the ball 19 times. Johnson combined with quarterback Zach Terrell's running ability to lead the way for the Broncos on the season-long series. Johnson broke off a 15-yard run into Kent State territory and Terrell picked up a 3rd-and-9 on a scramble for 11-yards to keep the drive alive.
 
The drive ended with Terrell keeping the ball on a speed option from a yard out. Terrell and Johnson then connected on a 2-yard pass on the two-point conversion to make it 21-14.
 
The Golden Flashes didn't fold and responded with an 83-yard drive, tying the game on a 20-yard touchdown by Justin Rankin to begin the fourth quarter.
 
WMU linebacker Robert Spillane provided the swing play of the game a few minutes later. The Broncos' offensive drive stalled, but the coverage unit was able to down James Coleman's punt inside the Kent State 1-yard line. On the very next play, Spillane pulled Rankin down in the end zone for a safety and a 23-21 WMU lead.  
 
The Broncos followed with two more rushing touchdowns, one by Franklin and one by Johnson, to put the game away. On the drive following the safety, WMU ran on the ball on seven of eight plays. Johnson blew open a hole for a 22-yard run and Franklin broke off a 19-yard touchdown run for his 39th career rushing TD, tying Jerome Persell's school record.
 
Kent State went 4-and-out on its next drive, giving Western Michigan the ball back on the KSU 36. Franklin took the first carry then Johnson ran on five consecutive plays, eventually scoring from five yards out.

Western Michigan attempted just 13 passes in the game, with four of Terrell's six completions going to Michael Henry (48 yards). Justin Tranquill led the defense with 10 tackles.
 
Who stood out:
Jr. RB Jarvion Franklin: 1 TD, 139 yards rushing, 31 carries
Sr. RB Fabian Johnson: 1 TD, 126 yards rushing, 19 carries
Jr. LB Robert Spillane: 6 tackles, 1 TFL (safety)

Up Next:
Western Michigan will have 11 days off before returning to Waldo Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 19 to take on Buffalo.