KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Senior running back Mark Bonds helped Western Michigan to a 42-28 win at Toledo with a 143-yard, two-touchdown effort on the ground against the Rockets. For his efforts, he was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week.
Bonds' 143 yards established a new career high for the Indianapolis native. He also scored two rushing touchdowns in a game for the second time in his career. Bonds also became just the 11th WMU running back to amass 2,000 or more yards in a career with a six-yard run at the 4:28 mark of the third quarter. He is now in the eighth spot on the all-time rushing yards list with 2,068 yards; 316 yards behind Phil Reed (2,384) for seventh place.
This is the second MAC West Offensive POTW award of Bonds' career and the fifth of the season for Western Michigan. The Broncos swept the awards in the opening week of the season (Jamarko Simmons, Austin Pritchard and Jim Laney) and Brandon West captured the division's special teams nod one week later.
Bonds and West combined for 245 yards on the ground against the Rockets as both eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game for the first time this season. It was Bonds' sixth 100-yard rushing game of his career.
Western Michigan (2-3, 1-0 MAC) takes on Akron at Waldo Stadium at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6.