Box Score
Game Notes
Game Quotes
Kalamazoo, Mich. - The Western Michigan Broncos (5-7, 3-4) defeated the Temple Owls (4-8, 4-4), 16-3, on senior day at Waldo Stadium. Seventeen seniors played in their final game as Broncos, and it couldn't have gone much better for them.
Senior tailback
Mark Bonds finished the game with 105 yards rushing, the third time this season and the seventh time in his career he's gone over the 100-yard mark. Senior wide receiver
Herb Martin played a big part in the Bronco's 438 total yards, tallying 100-yards receiving for the first time in his career after hauling in seven receptions
The game got off to a slow start for both teams in the first quarter as there were only 86 yards of total offense and three first downs between the two, all three coming from the Broncos.
Towards the end of the first quarter, however, the Broncos put together a drive that started at their own 23-yard line and ended in
Branden Ledbetter's hands for a 5-yard touchdown reception. The extra point attempt from
Mike Jones was no good, giving the Broncos a 6-0 lead with 12:49 left in the second quarter.
The touchdown was Ledbetter's 14th of his career, making him first all-time in touchdown receptions among tight end at WMU, surpassing
Tony Scheffler and
Jake Moreland. The touchdown pass from
Tim Hiller was the 40th of his career, a feat that has only been done by four quarterbacks in school history.
Just when it seemed like the Broncos were gaining momentum, which neither team was able to gain the first quarter, Hiller tried to thread the needle to Ledbetter again down the middle of the field, but was picked off by Temple linebacker Amara Kamara. Three plays later at the 9:36 mark, the Owls moved the chains for the first time in the game on an 11-yard pass from Vaughn Charlton to Delano Green. The very next play tailback Jason Harper ripped off a 28-yard run, getting inside the Broncos 20-yard line.
After three straight attempts at the end zone by Harper, the Owls were held to a 24-yard field goal by Jake Brownell which capped off an eight play, 53 yard drive that took up 4:27. Mid-way through the second quarter, the Broncos held on to a slim 6-3 lead.
The Broncos found themselves in a position to score right before halftime after a 35-yard completion from Hiller to Martin down the middle of the field with just under two minutes remaining. The drive stalled after rushing attempts from Bonds and WMU was forced to attempt a 32-yard field goal by Jones, and for the second time in the game he had his kick blocked by junior defensive lineman Terrance Knighton to end the first half. Western Michigan headed into the locker room barely holding onto their 6-3 lead.
Western Michigan was only able to score six points in the first 30 minutes of the game, but only took 1:45 to score in the second half. Ledbetter and freshman tight end
Anthony Middleton both played a key role in the Broncos scoring drive early in the second half. Hiller hit Ledbetter on a crossing route that went for 40-yards into Owl territory and Middleton hauled in a 19-yard reception that got the Broncos to the one-yard line. The very next play, Bonds powered his way into the end zone. Place kicker
Chris Kelly replaced Jones for the extra point, and knocked it through the uprights to give the Broncos a 13-3 lead with 13:15 left in the third quarter.
Kelly continued his success in his first season with the Broncos on the next drive when he booted a 33-yard field goal with 4:48 left in the quarter, to give WMU a 16-3 lead that they would not give up for the rest of the game.
On the last play of the third quarter, Hiller completed a 23-yard pass to Martin, allowing him to reach the 3,000 yard passing mark on the season.
Tim Lester is the only other Bronco quarterback to accomplish this feat.
When all was said and done, WMU dominated nearly every aspect of the game. The Bronco's 438 yards of total offense overmatched the Owl's 146 yards, and they also ruled the clock, holding onto the ball for 36:45 compared to Temple's 23:15, nearly an entire quarter more than the Owls.
