Game Stats
Post-Game Notes
MUNCIE, Ind. - Western Michigan football's bid to finish the regular season with 10 wins for the first time in program history came up short in a 45-22 loss at No. 15 Ball State in front of a national audience and a packed Scheumann Stadium on Tuesday night.
Western Michigan put up numbers against nationally ranked Ball State, scoring 22 points, but it was not enough to capture the Broncos' second four-game win streak of the season. Tim Hiller tied Tim Lester for the single-season record for touchdowns passes (34) and Jamarko Simmons tied Greg Jennings for the single-season record for receptions (98). Louis Delmas also passed a milestone, becoming the first Bronco to reach 100 tackles in a season since 2003.
There was a point in the second half that was key for the Broncos and WMU was not able to capitalize. After the Cardinals scored 10 points to end the first half, Western Michigan had the ball on offense to start the second. The drive stalled after five offensive plays at its own 47-yard line.
WMU forced a Ball State punt, one of four on the evening, but the Broncos' possession started at their own four-yard line. A near safety was averted by Hiller but the junior quarterback was sacked back to the one-yard line after moving the offense out to the 14-yard line.
Ball State's offense took advantage, scoring on its next drive in seven plays to extend its lead to 31-14. The dagger came on the second play of WMU's ensuing drive as Hiller's pass intended for Schneider Julien found Trey Lewis instead for a 34-yard defensive score for BSU. It was the first interception returned for a touchdown in Hiller's career, and it all but cemented the victory for the Cardinals.
Ball State's offense was all that had been previewed on Tuesday night in front of a record crowd of 23,861 fans. The Cardinals put up points, this is true, but the timing of the points proved to be the factor in them finishing the season undefeated at 12-0 and earned them a spot in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game against Buffalo on Dec. 5.
BSU scored 10 points in the last four minutes of the first half, to head into halftime up 24-14, and 14 more in the last three minutes, 47 seconds of the third quarter to take control, 38-14, as the third quarter wound down.
Both teams were forced to punt on their respective drives but after Hiller was not able to connect with tight end Anthony Williams, the Cardinals capitalized. Ball State moved the ball 87 yards on nine plays and scored the game's opening touchdown on MiQuale Lewis' 18th touchdown of the season, running it in from 10 yards out. He would finish with 120 yards on the ground.
Hiller's seventh interception of the season resulted in a five-play, 51-yard scoring drive for Ball State when Davis found Louis Johnson from 36 yards out for a 14-0 lead with 3:21 remaining in the opening quarter.
Aaron Winchester took over on the Broncos' ensuing drive, running the ball three times for 17 yards. Drew Burdi tossed his first touchdown pass of the season on a throw-back pass that found Julien behind the Cardinals defense for WMU's first score of the night. It was Julien's fourth score of the season and of his career.
WMU's offense came back onto the field after forcing a BSU punt on a three-and-out. When the Broncos' offense did take the field, it was another heavy dose of Winchester. The freshman, who finished the first half with 63 yards on 10 carries. Winchester started the drive with a carry up the middle for nine yards and again for six yards on third-and-five. Hiller connected with Simmons for the first time on the night as the senior made a reception over the head of the defender. Hiller found Juan Nunez on the next play for a nine-yard touchdown to even the score and tie the WMU single-season record for passing touchdowns in a season (Tim Lester, 1999).
Winchester, again spelling junior running back Brandon West for the most of the game, finished with 77 yards on 14 carries to go along with six kick returns for 127 yards, amassing 206 all-purpose yards during the game. West did manage 61 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown. That and the Broncos' third successful two-point conversion this season brought the Brown & Gold within two scores but it was the last score for WMU on the night. West finishes the regular season with a career-best 970 rushing yards.
Austin Pritchard led the team with 11 tackles on the night and 2.5 tackles for loss to bring his team-leading total to 12.5
