Game Stats
Post-Game Notes
Post-Game Quotes
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Western Michigan put up 520 yards of offense on a record-setting day from its quarterback but that, and 28 points, were not enough to hold off Central Michigan as the Broncos fell, 38-28, in front of a sellout crowd of 30,302 on Saturday afternoon.
Tim Hiller had a record-setting day in the Broncos' loss at Central Michigan, throwing for a WMU single-game record 471 yards on 38-of-53 passing, breaking the old record set by Chad Munson (450) against William & Mary on Sept. 6, 2003. He also broke the Kelly/Shorts Stadium record for passing yards one week removed from setting the UB Stadium record for pass attempts (63). Hiller's yardage bested his previous career high by 96 yards on a day when his receivers also set marks that will leave an imprint on the Western Michigan record book.
Juan Nunez, Schneider Julien and Jamarko Simmons all went over the century mark in receiving yards with 145, 128 and 118, respectively. Nunez's and Julien's totals were career highs as this trio became the first three Broncos to go over 100 yards in a game since Steve Neal, Micah Zuhl and Corey Alston first accomplished the feat on Sept. 4, 1999 against No. 4 Florida.
This game was special offensively for Western Michigan but CMU was able to sustain multiple drives against the Bronco defense despite facing third-and-long situations all afternoon. The Chippewas converted 10-for-15 third down chances and had success in third-and-16, third-and-25 and third-and-21. All drives that were kept alive resulted in touchdowns. The last conversion, a routine third-and-five, was a 52-yard pass play to WMU's seven-yard line that set up a field goal, putting the game out of reach with 1:20 remaining.
Western Michigan had opportunities in the red zone that were not converted, twice on fourth down. The first came on WMU's first drive, one that stalled when a fourth-down pass from Hiller slipped through Austin Pritchard's hands. Pritchard was a bright spot for WMU's defense, making a career-high 17 tackles with two tackles for a loss. The second came on a fourth-and-one at the CMU eight-yard line when Nunez could not haul in a pass over the middle.
Central Michigan used just 1:38 to move 68 yards on five plays to open the game's scoring. Brian Brunner, starting in place of Dan LeFevour, connected with Joe Bockheim on a 24-yard pass to the corner of the end zone.
Brandon West's, who scored two rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career, first run of the day went up the right side for a first down and Hiller started the drive 4-for-4 but on fourth and goal on the two-yard line Hiller's fifth attempt missed Pritchard in the right corner of the end zone. A holding call had negated a West touchdown run two plays earlier.
Central Michigan put the Broncos behind the eight ball, moving 98 yards in 11 plays for its second score of the day, this a 19-yard rushing score from Bryan Schroeder with 5:18 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Broncos were quick to answer and cut their deficit in half, moving 86 yards in seven plays and 2:50 of game time for West's fourth rushing touchdown of the season and team-leading eighth overall. The drive showcased Hiller connecting with West for eight yards to start the drive and Juan Nunez for 41 yards to break it open. Two 15-yard penalties aided WMU, the first was a face mask call when a defender grabbed Kirk Elsworth's. The second was a hit out of bounds on Simmons, giving Western Michigan a first-and-goal on the one-yard line. West pushed through on his second attempts up the middle.
WMU's defense did its job, stopping CMU on a three-and-out but Brett Hartmann's punt pinned WMU back at its own four-yard line. A false start by Anthony Parker moved it two-yards back. Hiller connected with Simmons for 16 yards, a first down and much needed breathing room. Nunez hauled in another reception over 20 yards, 24 yards to be exact to give WMU a first down at its own 42-yard line as the first quarter came to an end.
Western Michigan forced two-straight Central Michigan punts, one on a three-and-out, and took over on its own 11-yard line at the 10:35 mark of the second quarter. WMU converted on a pair of third downs during the drive. The first came on a third-and-eight when Hiller found Nunez for 12 yards. The second came on an eight-yard run by West. One play later Branden Ledbetter was open on the seam route and Hiller found him in stride for 38 yards. Those yards moved Ledbetter into second on the career receiving yards by a tight end list at WMU.
West took it from there, running for four yards and then for three over the right side for his second rushing touchdown of the half and the first game of his career with two rushing scores. More importantly, after trailing by 14, WMU tied the score with 5:56 remaining before the half.
The score remained tied for a mere 2:20 of game time as CMU scored on a Schroeder one-yard run. The drive, which gave the Chippewas a seven-point lead at the break, was kept alive when on third-and-25 Brunner connected with Kito Poblah for 27 yards.
WMU tied the score to open the second-half on a 12-play, 79-yard drive that chewed up nearly five minutes (4:58) of game time. Hiller found Nunez for a six-yard touchdown to knot the score at 21 apiece. It was Nunez's fourth receiving touchdown of the season, fifth of his career, and put the sophomore wide out over 100 yards for this first time in his career. Hiller went over the 300 yards passing on his second pass of the drive for his 10th-career 300-yard game.
The Chippewa offense continued its success on third downs on its ensuing drive, converting on third downs of eight and seven yards to go, respectively. That success helped CMU march down the field and take the lead back, 28-21, on Antonio Brown's two-yard touchdown pass to Rocky Weaver. CMU converted another third down when over 20 yards was needed to gain the first (21) en route to regaining its 14-point lead when Justin Hoskins ran it from nine yards out.
WMU's final score came on a fourth down when Hiller found Julien streaking down the right sideline from 32 yards out. Hiller released the ball as he was getting hit and falling to the turf.
Western Michigan has an open week coming up before the Broncos return to Waldo Stadium to take on another Mid-American Conference West Division rival, Eastern Michigan, on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
