Game Stats
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The annual Brown & Gold game took place at Waldo Stadium in less than ideal weather conditions but the fans in attendance enjoyed an exciting game where the Brown team defeated Gold, 35-0, with 21 points coming in the fourth quarter. Highlighting Brown's defensive effort was Zach Davidson, who finished with 3.5 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss.
The Brown team, filled with the first unit for Western Michigan football, scored a touchdown in all but the third quarter. The first two scores came on the ground with the deep pass setting up the first score. After ending the opening drive with an interception by Desman Stephen, Tim Hiller drove his squad down the field 86 yards in seven plays. Fifty-three yards of the drive were amassed on one play as Juan Nunez made a juggling catch to take the ball down to the 11-yard line. Hiller finished the day 5-for-12 with 93 yards, playing mostly in the first half.
Three plays later Kirk Elsworth rumbled in from eight yards out. The senior back had two scores on the day, the second coming from 12 yards away where he dove over the goal line from about two yards out, and he finished with 34 yards rushing on eight carries.
Glenis Thompson scored Brown's second score of the game, barreling in from one yard away. Thompson led all rushers with 86 yards on 14 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. The Brown team averaged 5.0 yards per rush on 29 carries.
Nunez led all receivers with 77 yards on two catches, followed by Jordan White with four receptions for 54 yards. White had a 25-yard reception from Robert Arnheim early in the third quarter en route to Elsworth's second TD of the day. Arnheim was 4-for-7 for 50 yards when on the field for the Brown team and mirrored that effort when with the Gold team, going 4-for-7 for 54 yards (8-for-14, 104 yards).
Davidson led the Brown squad with seven tackles, including 3.5 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss. He nearly took the hand off from Alex Jagels when he tried to get the ball to Jaron Deshazor. The Brown team amassed 8.0 sacks on the day and 13.0 tackles for loss.
Keith Dixson was busy for the Gold team, registering seven stops a break up and an interception. The two teams combined for three picks with the Gold squad having two on the day.
Vernon Stewart also recorded seven tackles and a pass break up, while Dustin Duclo, Chris Pyant, Mario Armstrong and Greg Marshall each had six stops. Justin Braska and Fernand Kashama each recorded sacks for the Gold team on Saturday afternoon as well.
Brown's last three scores came in the final quarter with the last two coming through the air. Arnheim found Branden Ledbetter just in front of the goal line as the tight end reached for the pylon and the score 10-yard score.
Drew Burdi, who also played for both squads during the day, capped the final scoring drive of the day with a 24-yard scoring strike to Nunez. After receiving the ball on the opponent's 37-yard line, Burdi found Schneider Julien for 11 yards and then Ledbetter for 14 yards and a first down two plays later. The next play was the scoring play to Nunez over the defender in the right front corner of the end zone.
The near play of the day was a toss back to Dennis Reedy who found Doug Wiggins all alone down the field but the transfer from Miami (Fla.) could not haul it in. Another newcomer, 2008 freshman Ravelle Sadler, saw action today, finishing with three tackles.
