Game Stats
Post-Game Notes
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Western Michigan football almost left 35,162 Indiana fans stunned at Memorial Stadium on Saturday as an attempt to come back from 10 points down falls short, 23-19.
Trailing by six with 9:35 remaining, Western Michigan was forced into a three-and-out situation, having to punt from its own 34-yard line. An errant snap scooted away from punter Ben Armer and Indiana's Jerimy Finch recovered for the Hoosiers on the 14-yard line. IU could not manage a first down when an apparent catch was overturned by the replay booth. The result was a 22-yard field goal attempt by Nick Freeland. What ensued over the next seven minutes, 19 seconds would be a roller coaster for both sidelines.
Freeland, who had made good on two other field goals earlier in the game, was blocked by Bronco senior linebacker Austin Pritchard. Pritchard, who led all tacklers with 12 stops, blocked the first kick of his career. It was the first blocked kick for WMU since EJ Biggers did so against Ohio on Oct. 4, 2008.
The block gave WMU the ball on its own 10-yard line, 90 yards away from a game-tying touchdown with an extra point to seal the win. Tim Hiller went to work, connecting with Jordan White for six yards. White was seeing his first game action since 2007 after battling knee injuries over the past season and a half. Hiller connected with Robert Arnheim for a yard and again for three more and a first down.
Hiller found Brandon West for four yards before Indiana was called for a personal foul, giving the Broncos an automatic first down at their own 39-yard line. On second-and-10 after an incompletion, IU was hit with back-to-back 15-yard penalties, the first for pass interference and the second for roughing the passer. When was said and done, Western Michigan had the ball on IU's 35-yard line and had a fresh set of downs.
West rushed for three yards and then hauled in a pass for nine more and first down. Hiller connected with White again for seven more. White finished the game with 55 yards on seven catches. Aaron Winchester carried the ball the next four plays in succession. The first gained a yard, the second gained four yards and a first down. The third was for no gain but a face mask call gave WMU a first down and the ball at the five-yard line with just over a minute in regulation. The next play, a Winchester rush, changed the emotions of everyone in Memorial Stadium. Winchester went through the hole on the right side. The Hoosiers' Greg Middleton poked it away from him and Justin Carrington recovered.
IU ran the ball up the middle three times on its drive and instead of punting elected to take the safety, giving up two points to take time off the clock. Western Michigan's final drive began with 33 seconds on the clock and ended with an unsuccessful lateral play to end the game.
Indiana opened the game by taking a 10-0 lead on a 21-yard Freeland field goal and a one-yard Ben Chappell run. The IU signal caller finished with 185 yards on 18-of-28 passing, while the Hoosiers' Demetrius McCray carried the ball 17 times for 134 yards and a touchdown.
That touchdown was an answer to the Broncos' only score of the first half. Trailing by 10, WMU marched 74 yard in 11 plays and capped off the drive with Drew Burdi's second career rushing TD. His first was at Idaho a year ago from 42 yards out, this one was from seven.
McCray's answer came two drives later after WMU was unable to capitalize on a defensive stop, Indiana's redshirt senior took a handoff around the left side of the defense and bolted 59 yards down the sideline for the score. It would be the last time Indiana would find the end zone.
Needing to grab momentum from the home team, Hiller hooked up with Arnheim for a 41-yard score to put WMU on the board. Arnheim finished with a career best 78 yards receiving. It was his second career scoring grab, with the first coming against Illinois, and it was Hiller's 78th career passing TD. He finished with 266 yards on 28-of-43 passing.
Western Michigan will look for its first win of the season when Miami comes to Waldo Stadium on Sept. 19 for CommUniverCity Night. The home opener also opens Mid-American Conference play. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., and can be heard on the Bronco Radio Network. Fans can watch the game on Bronco Insider by subscribing. Go to www.wmubroncos.com for details.
