Box Score

Game Notes

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TOLEDO, Ohio - For the first time since 1988, when Western Michigan last won the MAC title, the Broncos came away from the Glass Bowl victorious after great performances from running backs Mark Bonds and Brandon West. Both backs went over the 100-yard mark, and Western Michigan is now on a two game win streak.

After being beaten nine straight times at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, the Broncos pull of a huge 42-28 win to open up MAC play. WMU was picked to finish first in the MAC West division, and they've already gotten off to a 1-0 start.

Toledo got on the scoreboard first on their opening drive when Rocket quarterback Aaron Opelt found wide receiver Nick Moore in the middle of the field for a 28-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 11:55 left in the first quarter.

After a three-and-out by WMU's offense, Bronco punter Jim Laney booted the ball all the way down inside the Toledo one-yard line, giving the Rockets terrible field position. Western Michigan's defense held strong, holding Toledo to a three-and-out of there own.

WMU took over from their own 35-yard line after a booming punt from Toledo's Brett Kurn. The Bronco's drive looked promising, marching all the way down into Rocket territory and converting on a fourth-and-six swing pass to Bonds. However, on the very next play Bonds took a hand off through the right side of the line and put the ball on the turf in what was a controversial fumble. The play was reviewed by the replay booth, and the fumble by Bonds stood. Luckily for the Bronco offense, the Brown and Gold defense did their job and shut down Toledo on their possession.

The Broncos gave the ball right back on their next possession when Tim Hiller was intercepted by Toledo's Barry Church and returned into Bronco territory to the 36-yard line. Toledo running back Jalen Parmele's number was called three straight times accounting for about nine yards, bringing up a fourth-and-one as the first quarter came to an end.

Toledo sent their offense on to the field rather than their field goal unit, a risk that turned costly for Rockets. After getting inside WMU's five-yard line, it seemed Toledo was going to get into the end zone. But when Opelt was looking to hit Moore on a quick slant, WMU cornerback London Fryar jumped in front and picked the pass off, taking it all the way back to the Rocket 46-yard line. That makes it 31 straight games now that the Bronco defense has forced a turnover.

Hiller led the Bronco offense down the field, with his arm and his legs. On third-and-one Hiller called his own number taking the ball up the middle on a quarterback sneak to keep the drive alive. Later in the drive, Hiller dropped back to pass feeling tremendous pressure from Rocket defenders. Somehow, Hiller avoided the defenders and hit Branden Ledbetter in the middle of the field and he outran the safeties for a 33-yard touchdown to tied the game up at 7-7 with 11:49 left in the second quarer. Ledbetter is now tied for third all-time at WMU for touchdowns by a tight end. The touchdown drive took only six plays, for 47 yards and took 1:59 off the clock.

After exchanging punts, Toledo's offense took over and got within the WMU five-yard line once again; this time on a wide receiver screen to Nick Moore who took the ball 15 yards to the four-yard line. Backup quarterback Clint Cochran, who checked in when Opelt injured his ankle, fumbled the snap but was able to pick it up and run into the end zone from four-yards out to give Toledo a 14-7 lead with 7:02 left in the second quarter.

Western Michigan answered the Toledo score on their next drive when Bonds went airborne over the offensive line and tumbled into the end zone. Mike Jones' extra point attempt was no good allowing Toledo to keep the lead, 14-13. A key play on that drive was Hiller hitting Herb Martin on a 48-yard completion, setting up three straight Mark Bonds rushes. WMU drove 75 yards in six plays, taking up 2:16.

The Bronco offense came onto the field once again after the defense played their part, and the offense executed the two-minute drill to perfection. Hiller helped WMU move down the field with his arm, and Bonds contributed with his legs. As Western Michigan got inside the red zone, Bill Cubit called an unorthodox play which had Jamarcko Simmons receive a screen pass then pitch the ball to Bonds on the hook-and-ladder. Bonds took the ball inside the six-yard line, setting up a touchdown rush by West to end the first half with WMU on top, 20-14.

Western Michigan's momentum carried into the second half when Toledo's Parmele took the opening kickoff up the left sideline and fumbled the ball after being hit by C.J. Wilson and kicker Mike Jones. Junior linebacker Fernand Kashama jumped on the loose ball and took over from the UT 40-yard line. On a third-and-ten for the Broncos, Hiller hit Martin for a eight yard gain, bringing up fourth-and-two. On fourth down, Hiller hit Ledbetter who was laying on his back when he made the catch. That was the second fourth down conversion of the night for WMU, increasing their season total to 11 for 13 on fourth down.

Hiller and Co. moved the ball inside the red zone, with completions to Martin and rushes from Bonds. Hiller capped off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to West, his second touchdown of the night (one rush, one rec.), increasing the Bronco's lead to 27-14 with 10:21 left in the third quarter

After struggling in the first quarter, the Bronco defense woke up and stepped up big. Toledo was stopped three straight plays by Western Michigan's swarming defense, and opted to go for it on a fourth down and long. Cochran dropped back to pass and was sacked by Dustin Duclo and the Rockets turned the ball over on downs. With the defense playing lights out and the offense scoring 20 straight points, the momentum was definitely in favor of the Broncos.

The Western Michigan offense proved to be way too much for Toledo's defense in the third quarter when Bonds busted through the line for a 14-yard touchdown rush, his second rushing touchdown of the night, with just 3:02 left in the third quarter. And with that rush, Bonds went over 2,000 yards for his career at WMU. Cubit decided to go for the two-point conversion on a play that looked like it was drawn up in the backyard. Martin was lined up in the slot and came in motion to receive the hand off on the end around. The left handed wide receiver then threw the ball to full back Keith Shultz who was wide open in the end zone for two points, giving the Broncos a 35-14 lead, making it 28 straight points for the Broncos.

Toledo's offense wasted no time countering WMU's score with a rushing touchdown of there own, coming on a 35-yard rush from Parmele making it 35-21 with 1:58 left in the third quarter. That score was the first time UT got on the scoreboard since the 7:02 mark in the second quarter.

Although it took almost a full quarter, the Broncos answered UT's score with a touchdown of their own with 4:47 left in the fourth quarter. Hiller hooked up with Simmons on a 17-yard post-corner route where Simmons out-jumped the Rocket defender in the end zone, making it a comfortable 42-21 fourth quarter lead for WMU. The Bronco's drove down the field 80-yards in 8:03, taking up ten plays.

Toledo added another rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter, making the final 42-28 in favor of the Broncos. But the real story at the end of the game was Brandon West totaling 102yards on the ground, joining Bonds in the 100-yard club on the night. Bonds went for 143 yards, a career high, and recorded his sixth 100-yard performance of his career.