MUNCIE, Ind. -The Western Michigan football team forced five turn overs, turning them in 24 points in the Broncos' 45-16 win at Ball State at Scheumann Stadium on Saturday afternoon. WMU scored on a pick-six and a fake field goal and held a 14-0 lead with less than a minute gone in the game.
Three plays after John Potter recovered a fumble on the opening kick off, Alex Carder ran 20 yards for the games opening score to cap a 45 second drive and the Broncos never looked back. WMU's defense used just one play for its next score as Lewis Toler stepped in front of a Keith Wenning pass and ran untouched 24 yards for the TD. It was Toler's third pick in as many games and his first pick-six.
Western Michigan scored once more in the opening frame, this time on a nine-yard run from Carder, capping a nine-play, 60-yard drive. Carder led the team with a career high 66 yards rushing and three rushing TDs. Three different Broncos rushed for over 50 yards, including Tevin Drake who made his collegiate debut with 63 yards on eight carries, as the Broncos rushed for a season high 209 yards.
Dareyon Chance rushed for 53 yards on eight carries, including a career long run of 41 yards on Saturday. Western Michigan's top three rushers, including Carder, averaged over five yards per carry led by Drake's 7.9 yards per carry.
As the first quarter drew to a close, it seemed as though another Bronco scoring drive had stalled at the eight-yard line. The team came back on the field to start the second quarter to attempt the short field goal. Holder Robert Arnheim took the snap from Mike Famiglietti and flipped it to Potter. The field opened up as Potter ran untouched for the third TD of the game for Western Michigan.
Potter filled up the stat sheet with the fumble recovery, the rushing TD, one field goal and a touchback but the scoring was not over for the Broncos. After a Ball State field goal to make the score, 31-9, Carder ripped through the line for his third rushing score of the game with 5:42 remaining in third quarter.
In all, Potter personally accounted for one third of all of WMU's points. He scored a field goal, six PATs and a rushing TD for 15 total points. He also extended his own program record for career tackles by a kicker with the 21st of his career early in the opening quarter.
After multiple attempts to score through the air, Carder found Juan Nunez from 32 yards out for an aerial strike with 31 seconds remaining in the third. It was Nunez's first TD catch since the opener at Michigan State. He finished with five catches for 71 yards. Carder finished the game with 265 yards through the air on 17-for-29 passing. It was also the first game of the year WMU did not turn the ball over.
Jordan White led all receivers with 96 yards receiving on just four receptions as eight different receivers had at least one catch. Clark Mussman had a career high 37 yards receiving on two receptions and Arnheim pitched in 35 yards on two catches as well.
Mario Armstrong had his second pick in as many games and the Broncos registered a season high five pass break ups. Armstrong also forced a fumble as did Simon. Drew Nowak recovered another fumble as did Jamail Berry. Mitch Zajac led the team with eight tackles.
After evening its Mid-American Conference record at 1-1, Western Michigan takes a week off of conference play to travel 70 minutes down Rte. 131 to South Bend, Ind., to take on Notre Dame. It will be the first time during the existence of the MAC a team from the conference takes the field against the Irish.
