CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Western Michigan embarked on its 100th season of football with a hard-fought 31-19 loss to 23rd/25th-ranked Virginia Saturday at Scott Stadium.
The Broncos played without the services of five starters (QB Ryan Cubit, LB Paul Tithof, LB Darrell Copeland, CB Desman Stephen and DT Joe Alvarez) and used 18 freshmen (10-true, 8-redshirted) in the contest, yet trailed only by five points after three quarters.
Senior QB Robbie Haas, who had attempted just nine passes in three seasons, earned his first start and completed 33-of-49 passes for 271 yards. Receiver Greg Jennings tied a school record with 16 receptions, accumulating 156 yards.
"All we asked of the kids today was to play as hard as they could and do things the right way," said Cubit. "And they did everything we asked of them -- they left everything on the field. I'm very proud of our players and coaching staff."
At first, it appeared the Cavaliers might put the game away in the first half. UVa jumped out a 24-3 lead, converting a pair of turnovers (fumble, interception) into 10 points.
QB Marques Hagans accounted for two TDs, opening scoring with a two-yard pass to Tom Santi and later sneaking the ball in from the one-yard line. Following a Connor Hughes 36-yard field goal, RB Michael Johnson found the end zone from seven yards out to give the Wahoos a 24-3 cushion with 12:25 left in the second quarter.
The Brown & Gold crawled back into the game behind the leg of junior Nate Meyer, who converted on four field goals, including three in the first half. Meyer, who had only one prior field goal in his career, nailed kicks of 42, 40, 31 and 30 yards.
WMU's defense provided the team's first touchdown of the season when FS C.J. Wilson intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards with 37 seconds left in the first half. Freshman Louis Delmas finished with a team-high 10 tackles while Wilson and LB Dustin Duclo recorded seven stops.
The teams exchanged field goals to account for the only scoring in the second half.
NOTES: Sophomore Mark Bonds surpassed 100 yards (119) for the first time in his career ... Jennings' 16 catches tied a record set by Jamie Hence in 1987 ... UVa TB Wali Lundy rushed for 29 yards before leaving the game with an ankle injury in the first half ... WMU lost TE Tony Scheffler to a hand injury as well ... the contest was carried live by ESPN 360 broadband.
