Box Score
Tallahassee, Fla - The Broncos (7-4, 5-2 MAC) had a chance to tie the game on the final drive of the game, but Florida State (6-5, 3-5 ACC) was able to hold on in front of 78,236 fans at Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Broncos, who have 12 players from Florida, were handed the ball with 2:38 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, down 28-20. Western Michigan opened up the drive with a holding penalty, pushing them back to their own 16 yard-line. Ryan Cubit and Jamarko Simmons would connect on three plays, two coming on fourth-downs to put the Broncos within 11 yards of the endzone and a possible two-point conversion to tie the game. A screen play to running back Mark Bonds resulted in a loss of nine yards, pushing the Broncos back to the FSU 20. On the following play Cubit would connect with tight-end Matt Stevens for a 20-yard touchdown pass, but it was called back for holding. With seven seconds remaining on the clock Cubit fired it into the end-zone looking for Simmons again but it was incomplete, leaving the Broncos 30 yards short from possibly tying the game.
The Broncos were able to capitalize on their first possession of the game. WMU drove 44 yards on 12 plays and Nate Meyer connected on a 50-yard field goal, matching his previous career high. Cubit was four-for-six passing on the drive and finished 27-for-48 for 227 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Florida State had trouble moving the ball early but found their groove early in the second quarter when Chris Davis scored on an eight-yard touchdown run to give the Seminoles their first lead of the game, 7-3 . Florida State never trailed from that point on.
Florida State expanded their lead 14-3 after Roger Williams picked of a Ryan Cubit pass returning it to the Bronco 36 yard-line. On the following play quarterback Xavier Lee connected with Greg Carr for a 26-yard touchdown pass.
The Broncos countered back when freshman running back Brandon West returned the following kickoff for a career long 65 yards. That set up a 23-yard Cubit to Jamarko Simmons touchdown pass, to bring WMU within four. The touchdown reception was the first of the year for Simmons. Simmons finished the game with a career high nine receptions for a career high 122 yards and one touchdown.
FSU opened the third-quarter driving quickly down to the WMU 15 yard-line. The Bronco defense was able to hold the Seminoles and force a 44-yard field goal attempt. The kick by Gary Cismesia went wide left.
Western Michigan later recovered a fumbled exchange between Lee and Lorenzo Booker, giving WMU the ball at the Florida State 12 yard-line. Cubit was sacked on the following play pushing the Broncos back. Florida State was able to hold WMU to a 43-yard Meyer field goal, cutting FSU's lead to one.
On the ensuing drive, Florida State was again able to march down the field, but the WMU red-zone defense stepped up again and forced a 41-yard field goal. The field goal was no good, but on the following play Lawrence Timmons stepped in front of a Cubit pass returning it 22 yards for a touchdown, giving FSU a 21-13 lead.
After a failed fourth-down conversion Carr and Lee hooked up again, this time from 19 yards out to put Florida State up 28-13.
A 56-yard kickoff return by West gave the Broncos a short field to play with yet again. Cubit went four-for-five for 53 yards on the drive and capped if off on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Herb Martin, bringing the Broncos within eight.
Both Drew Weatherford and Lee saw action at quarterback for the Seminoles, but Lee saw a majority of the action completing 9-of-13 attempts for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Western Michigan managed only 30 yards on the ground, led by Bonds' 19 carries for 40 yards. Booker led FSU, rushing for 74 yards on 20 carries.
The Bronco defense held Florida State to 248 yards total offense and was led by Zach Davidson who finished the game with four tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The Broncos conclude their season on Friday Nov. 24 with a trip to Akron to take on the Zips. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPNU.
Game Notes
- Twelve WMU players playing in native state of Florida for first time in collegiate career.
- Chris Maragos attempted first career pass in first quarter
- Nate Meyer matches career long with 50-yard field goal at 10:58 mark of opening quarter
- Field goal was first points ever scored on FSU in series
- The Nate Meyer 50-yard field goal ended 57:54 scoring drought for WMU going back to TD scored at CMU at 8:52 mark of first quarter
- Forced 28th turnover of season when Dustin Duclo caused Chris Davis to fumble and it was recovered by Austin Pritchard at midfield (it was the seventh fumble recovered this season for WMU)
- Brandon West returns kick off 65 yards to FSU 31 (career long)
- Jamarko Simmons catches first TD of season (23 yards) in second quarter
- Mark Bonds' 41 yards gives him 1,007 for the season and give WMU
back-to-back 1,000-yard rushers (Bonds, Trovon Riley)
- Simmons had a career high nine receptions for a career high 123 yards
