Box Score
Game Notes

YPSILANTI, Mich. - Nineteen unanswered points from Eastern Michigan (3-6, 2-1) were the difference Saturday at Rynearson Stadium. Western Michigan (3-6, 2-3) couldn't keep their defense off the field, and couldn't put any points on the board. The Broncos got off to a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter when Boston McCornell tackled Pierre Walker in the end zone for a safety, but they wouldn't score again. EMU scored 19 unanswered points on their way to a 19-2 MAC West victory.

Time of possession was the key statistic for the Eagles, as they held the ball for 40:29, while the Bronco offense was only on the field 19:31. WMU's defense was able to come away with one takeaway, while EMU caused six turnovers by way of three interceptions and three fumbles.

The Eagles took the first drive of the game 53 yards in 11 plays, but when the offense stalled deep into WMU territory, kicker Zach Johnson was called to kick a 35-yard field goal. Johnson's field goal sailed right, and the Bronco defense caught a big break early.

On Eastern Michigan's next drive, the offense showed promise again until WMU sophomore Cody Cielenski recorded his first career sack on third down and forced a punt.

Tim Hiller lead the Broncos down the field with ease, completing five-of-six passes, and a Brandon West rush gave the Broncos a first-and-goal from the three yard-line. On the very next play, West fumbled at the goal line and gave the ball back to the Eagles. The play was reviewed and stood as called on the field.

The fumbled proved to be less costly for the Broncos than expected. Two plays later, EMU's Walker was dropped in the end zone McCornell for the first safety since 2005 for Western Michigan. The Broncos took a 2-0 lead with 25 seconds to play in the first quarter.

On the first play following the free kick, Hiller took a shot deep for Herb Martin, but was intercepted by Ryan Downard at the EMU 19 yard-line. Eastern Michigan quarterback Andy Schmitt torched the Broncos with his legs, picking up 40 yards on the ground before being knocked out of the game by Londen Fryar. His replacement, true freshman Kyle McMahon, drove the rest of the way to set up a 25-yard field by Johnson to give the Eagles a 3-2 baseball score lead with 9:09 left in the first half. The Eagles took the lead with them into the locker room at halftime.

To begin the second half, senior quarterback Thomas Peregrin replaced Hiller as the signal caller and drove the Broncos down to the EMU 21 yard-line before West put the ball on the turf for the second time. The Eagles pounced on the fumble, which was their third takeaway of the game.

After the teams exchanged punts, Eastern Michigan took over from their own 40 yard-line. On the third play of the drive, wide receiver Dontayo Gage took an end around 55-yards for a touchdown. Johnson missed the extra point, making it 9-2 in favor of the Eagles.

With 4:43 left in the third quarter, Peregrin and the Broncos were faced with a third-and-fifteen from their own 49 yard-line. EMU defensive lineman Eric Young broke through the offensive line and sacked Peregrin, forcing a fumble in the process. The Eagles jumped on the ball and took over from the WMU 42 yard-line. The Bronco defense stepped up and prevented the Eagles from converting the turnover into any points, and forced a punt.

Jamarko Simmons offered one of the only bright spots of the third quarter for the Broncos when he recorded his sixth reception of the game, giving him 75 on the season, which is third all-time at WMU in a season.

On Eastern Michigan's next possession, the Eagles drove 41 yards to the WMU 28 yard-line, where Johnson booted a 50-yard field goal to make it 12-2 with just over 11 minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

Western Michigan's offense came out after the field goal for only one play, when EMU's Daniel Holtzclaw intercepted Perigren's pass for their fourth takeaway of the game, sending an already winded Bronco defense back onto the field. At the time, WMU's defense had been on the field for nearly 30 of the 45 minutes played.

Their fatigue was obvious on EMU's next drive, as they went 35 yards in six plays on their way to a 19-yard touchdown pass from McMahon to Jacory Stone with 9:26 left to play. The Eagles jumped out to a 17 point lead; 19-2.

The Eagles held the ball for eight of the final nine minutes before Louis Delmas intercepted McMahon in the end zone for the Broncos first takeaway of the game. Hiller returned in the fourth quarter, only to throw his second interception of the game and seal the victory for the Eastern Michigan Eagles.

Western Michigan will next host intra-state rival Central Michigan next Tuesday, November 6th at 7:30 p.m. The game will be featured on ESPN 2.