Football | September 27, 2017

WESTERN MICHIGAN (2-2, 0-0 MAC)
vs. BALL STATE (2-2, 0-0 MAC)
Sept. 30, 2017 • Waldo Stadium (30,200) • Kalamazoo, Mich.
7 PM ET • ESPN3 • 96.5 FM
All-Time Series: WMU leads, 24-19; has won three in a row


ESPN3 TALENT:
Dan Gutowsky - Play-by-Play
Marcus Ray - Analyst

COACHING FACTS
WMU Head Coach: Tim Lester (Western Michigan, 2000)
Record at WMU: 2-2, 0-0 MAC (1st Season)
Overall record: 42-25 (7th season)

Head Coach: Mike Neu
Record at Ball State 6-10, 1-7 MAC (2nd Season)
Overall record: Same

ARBOR FINANCIAL YOUTH DAY
Saturday is Western Michigan's annual Arbor Financial Youth Day, with a $14 ticket special that includes game ticket, snack coupon for a hot dog and chips and admittance into pre-game Youth Day activities in the Seelye Center from 5-6:30 PM. A few of the organizations and activities on hand during Youth Day will be: Arbor Financial Credit Union, Girls on the Run, Kalamazoo County Family YMCA, WMU Cheer and Dance Teams, WMU College of Aviation, WMU Sunseeker Solar Car and Team and Kalamazoo Astronomical Society and several interactive inflatable games.

Tickets can be purchased at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets or by calling 1-888-4-WMU-TIX. Enter the promotional code YOUTHDAY to receive the Arbor Financial Youth Day special. The Youth Day ticket package must be purchased in advance of game day and will not be available at the gate.

BRONCOS LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS
After dropping road games at #4 USC and Michigan State to open the season, Western Michigan has rebounded to rattle off two-straight home victories. The Broncos defeated Idaho, 37-28, and Wagner, 49-14, averaging 43 ppg over the two wins. This Saturday will be the third consecutive home game for WMU. The Broncos head to Buffalo for their first road Mid-American Conference matchup next Saturday, Oct. 7.

MAC OPENER - SERIES INFORMATION
Saturday marks the first MAC game for both Western Michigan and Ball State. The Broncos have won the last three meetings and lead the all-time series, 24-19. WMU defeated Ball State, 52-20, last year in Muncie, Ind., and notched a 54-7 win the last time the two faced off in Kalamazoo in 2015.

LESTER TAKES THE REINS
Tim Lester is in his first season as head coach at WMU and is one of 21 FBS coaches leading their alma mater. Lester was an All-MAC quarterback for the Broncos, playing from 1996-99. He was the 1996 MAC Freshman of the Year and led WMU to the 1999 MAC Championship game. Lester threw for 11,299 yards and 87 career TDs. This will be his 68th game as a head coach, also coaching at the Division II and III levels. Lester was an assistant coach at Western Michigan from 2005-06 and most recently was the QB coach at Purdue during the 2016 season.

BALL STATE CONNECTION
Current WMU defensive coordinator Tim Daoust was the defensive coordinator at Ball State last year. WMU head coach Tim Lester's oldest son, Quinn Isaacson, currently attends Ball State and is a freshman on the men's volleyball team. BSU's strength coach is former WMU punter Ben Armer (2008-11).

LAST TIME OUT
WMU racked up 527 yards of offense against Wagner, a season high. The Broncos (2-2) totaled 362 yards on the ground, with both Jamauri Bogan and Jarvion Franklin breaking 100 on the night. Bogan led all rushers with a game-high 132 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Franklin had 111 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. RSo. quarterback Jon Wassink started the game connecting on his first nine pass attempts and finished 11-for-12 for 144 yards and a career-high three touchdowns passes. Sophomore wide receiver Keishawn Watson had a game-high six receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow sophomore D'Wayne Eskridge had a game-high 92 yards receiving on two catches.

WMU's defense held the Seahawks to 113 total yards on the night, with senior linebacker Asantay Brown leading the way with eight tackles. Darius Phillips and Drake Spears each recorded sacks.

DEFENSE'S 13 TACKLES FOR LOSS MOST SINCE 2003
WMU's 13 TFL vs. Wagner were the most for the Broncos in a game since 2003. Eleven different Broncos recorded a TFL, totaling 45 yards.

COACH TO CURE MD
Western Michigan will be joined by honorary team captain, 15 year-old Ryan Karlin, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Both coaching staffs will wear patches on their sleeves to raise the awareness of Duchenne and in honor of Ryan. Ryan's older sister is a senior ice skater at Western Michigan. His sister Brittany (Lauren's twin sister) is a senior at Ball State and he also has a sister Cassidy at Michigan State. Ryan has done public announcing at sporting events and is scheduled to make an appearance on the Bronco Radio Network.

WASSINK'S TIME TO LEAD
RSo. QB Jon Wassink has four passing TDs this season, three rushing and one receiving. Over the last two games, he has averaged 188.5 yards in the air. Against Wagner, Wassink connected on his first nine passes and and ended the game 11-for-12 with three TDs.

PHILLIPS ACTIVE KOR LEADER
Senior Darius Phillips is the FBS' active leader for career kickoff return yards with 2,859. He ranks 13th all-time. Former Bronco Brandon West is sixth all-time on the list with 3,118 career kickoff return yards (2006-09). WMU is the only program with two players in the all-time top 15. Phillips' five career kickoff returns for a touchdown are tied for ninth most in FBS history.

SCOUTING BALL STATE
Ball State is 2-2 this season, having lost its first game (24-21 at Illinois) and last game (33-21 at Western Kentucky). Both Cardinal wins have come in the middle and were at home (51-31 vs. UAB, 28-19 vs. Tennessee Tech).

Ball State senior QB Jack Milas made his first start of 2017 due to an injury to junior Riley Neal. Neal has 659 yards throwing and six TDs this season. Milas has appeared in all four games and has 267 yards, no TDs. The Cardinals also feature a strong back field of Malik Dunner (167 yds), James Gilbert (207) and Caleb Huntley (226). The trio has 10 TDs collectively. Gilbert also missed last game with injury. He was a First Team All-MAC selection a year ago. Freshman Justin Hall leads the receivers with 310 yards and two TDs. Three other players have over 100 yards receiving on the year.

 Ball State's defense is allowing over 361 yards per game. Senior DE Anthony Winbush leads the MAC with 7.5 sacks this season.