Game Stats
Post-Game Notes
Post-Game Quotes
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - John Potter's field goal from 28 yards out gave Western Michigan a 34-31 overtime win over Buffalo Homecoming Weekend. It marked the second straight year that WMU had to come from behind and beat Buffalo in overtime. The Broncos have won all five tries in the series between the two schools.
Western Michigan led throughout the game until the fourth quarter when a 56-yard touchdown run by Buffalo's Ike Nduka threatened to spoil WMU's Homecoming festivities. The Broncos responded with a nine-play, 68 yard drive for a touchdown with 1:58 remaining, but a 28-yard field goal by the Bulls with no time left forced overtime.
WMU won the coin toss in overtime and elected to go on defense, stopping Buffalo on three consecutive plays. UB's John Rachuna lined up for a field goal into the wind from 43 yards but his attempt fell well short. The Broncos took over the ball and Brandon West rushed on four-straight plays to put Potter 28-yards away for the win.
Freshman Trey Smith caught a 26-yard pass from Tim Hiller and West rushed in from three yards out for one of his two touchdowns on the day during the late fourth quarter drive. Buffalo also helped out, being whistled for a substitution penalty to give the Broncos first and goal from the three yard line on the drive.
The Broncos were 6-of-7 in the red zone for the game. The only time they didn't convert was after a bad snap resulted in a missed field goal by Potter in the second quarter.
Hiller continued his assault on the record books, leading Western Michigan with 350 passing yards on 34 completions. Throwing for two touchdowns he has 91 for his career, and stands alone in second place on the all-time Mid-American Conference career touchdown passes list. Hiller also became just the eighth signal caller in MAC history to eclipse 10,000 career passing yards.
Freshman wideout Ansel Ponder was on the receiving end of 10 Hiller passes and both touchdowns, recording 86 yards receiving. Robert Arnheim led receivers with 107 yards on seven receptions, his longest going for 42 yards. It was the second-straight 100-yard receiving game for Arnheim.
West had another all-around day, rushing for 136 yards on 27 carries as the Broncos racked up 164 yards on the ground. He caught four passes for 41 yards receiving and returned five kickoffs for 108 yards to finish with 282 all-purpose yards. He is 113 yards from breaking the NCAA Division I FBS career record of 2,945 kick return yards.
Jamail Berry and Justin Braska each had interceptions and Drew Nowak blocked a field for the Broncos defensively. Senior linebacker Austin Pritchard made 10 tackles, one for a loss. Berry and David Lewis each had seven stops.
West returned the opening kickoff 53 yards, setting up the Broncos' first touchdown. Hiller completed five consecutive passes, including a 10-yard TD strike to Ponder, his first career touchdown reception.
On its next possession, WMU got pinned deep in its own territory on a punt. West was stripped of the ball on a run and Buffalo recovered, allowing Nduka to dash through the middle from 11 yards out to tie the score.
Ponder caught a second touchdown from Hiller with 2:37 remaining in the first quarter, this one from nine yards out to put WMU back on top, 14-7. The Broncos added a Potter field goal in the second quarter to lead 17-7 at halftime.
Buffalo outscored Western Michigan in the third quarter, 14-7, to make for a 24-21 game heading into the fourth quarter. Nduka put the finishing touches on a seven-play 73-yard drive for the Bulls with a two-yard touchdown run. The other score came on a Brett Hamlin diving catch in the end zone on a 33-yard pass from Zach Maynard.
West scored a two-yard touchdown run for the Broncos in the third quarter. Arnheim made back-to-back catches of 14 and 19 yards on the 77-yard drive.
Trailing by three in the fourth quarter, 24-21, Buffalo was denied a chance to tie the game when Nowak blocked A.J. Principe's 39-yard field goal attempt. Buffalo pulled ahead on its next drive when Nduka broke off for a the 56-yard run, leading to the Bronco comeback and overtime win. The two teams combined for 1,046 yards of offense as each QB threw for over 300 yards.
Western Michigan travels to Kent State next Saturday for a 2 p.m. matchup with the Golden Flashes.
