Game Stats
Post-Game Notes
Post-Game Quotes
TOLEDO, Ohio - Western Michigan needed to rebound from a road loss and did so in a big way with a convincing 58-26 win over Toledo at the Glass Bowl on Saturday night. Tim Hiller tied Bronco great Tim Lester for the program record with 87 career TD passes, also tying Lester for third on the MAC career list.
Hiller started his string of first half TD passes early, connecting with Jordan White on the Broncos' first offensive play from scrimmage for the 54-yard score. At the time it tied him with Toledo's Bruce Gradkowski for fifth on the MAC career list at 85 since CMU's Dan LeFevour moved into fourth alone with three passing scores of his own earlier in the day.
Hiller, who finished with 270 yards on 16-of-26 passing (61.5 percent) joined his MAC West counterpart at the 10:59 mark of the first quarter, connecting again with White from 19 yards out to give WMU a 14-0 lead and Hiller his 86th career scoring strike. White, who received a block from fellow receiver Juan Nunez had two receiving TDs in a game for the first time in his career and had a career-high 117 yards receiving, his second 100-yard game this season.
On the ensuing kickoff Vernon Stewart upended Toledo return man Kenny Veal and John Potter recovered the fumble, giving the ball back to WMU at the Rockets' 30-yard line. After a pair of Hiller completions to Nunez, Brandon West showed his versatility, throwing a 12-yard TD pass (first of his career) to Nunez in the corner of the end zone to give WMU a 20-0 lead after the missed PAT.
Nunez hauled Hiller's record-tying 87th career scoring strike in the second quarter, making it the first time WMU has had two receivers with two TDs in the same game since Jamarko Simmons and Branden Ledbetter accomplished the feat against Idaho on Sept. 13, 2008.
The Broncos fumbled in the first half on a QB keeper by Hiller. Toledo drove to WMU's three-yard line but an illegal shift call moved the ball back to the eight and an offensive pass interference call moved it back to the 23 before Toledo had to settle for its second field goal of the opening quarter.
The 20 points in the opening quarter were the most in any first quarter for Western Michigan this season and tied for the most in any quarter. The Broncos did one better in the second quarter, scoring 21 on the first of West's three rushing scores on the night. The first came from 15 yards out, the second from 19 and the third, to open the third quarter was from 70 yards out.
Even though it was Hiller was the Bronco to tie records on this night, West also reached milestones of his own. The senior became only the fifth running back to rush for over 3,000 yards in a career and rushed for three touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career, finishing the game with a season best 153 yards on the ground for a 10.9 yards per carry average.
Western Michigan's 58 points are the most the Broncos have ever scored against Toledo in series history. It is also the most ever scored against the Rockets by a MAC team, besting the previous high of 52 score by Kent State on Nov. 17, 1973.
Western Michigan did not allow a sack, punted once, rushed for over 250 yards and amassed 534 yards of offense, the most on the season, against the Rockets. It is the second game in a row WMU has not allowed a sack.
The Broncos come back home to Waldo Stadium for a showdown with Central Michigan at 3:30 p.m., on Oct. 17. The game will air on FSN+ Detroit and as always on the Bronco Radio Network.
