2010 Spring Game Stats
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The WMU offense scored four touchdowns on Saturday afternoon but with the scoring system in place, defeated the defensive unit, 68-16. Alex Carder was 14-for-18 for 147 yards and a touchdown, including a 56-yard strike to Juan Nunez. Brian Fields and Aaron Winchester each scored as Fields led with 96 yards rushing. Lewis Toler had 10 tackles for the defense.
If the game was scored traditionally, the score still would have ended up 31-0 in favor of the offense. WMU's offensive scoring drives lasted 15, five, 10, three and seven yards, respectively, resulting in one John Potter field goal and four TDs - two through the air and two more on the ground.
After a (traditionally) scoreless first quarter, WMU put together a 15-play, 67-yard drive that was capped by Potter's 31-yard field goal. The drive was a heavy dose of Fields and Antoin Scriven as the pair carried the ball for seven times for 20 yards. The biggest play came from the arm of Tyler VanTubbergen (6-for-11, 71 yds), hitting Dervon Wallace for 32 yards. Wallace led all receivers with 89 yards on six receptions.
The Broncos' first TD came in the third quarter when Fields ripped off a 48-yard run, counting for half his net rushing yards, for the score. Carder had completed four-straight passes prior to the big run. One aspect of today's scoring system was the offense earning two points for any play that went for 30 or more yards. This scoring run was one of four for the Bronco offense.
Drew Burdi (7-for-11, 73 yds) threw WMU's first touchdown pass of the day, finding James O'Neill from four yards out for a red zone score. The offense was 4-for-5 in red zone opportunities on Saturday afternoon. O'Neill was one of 11 Broncos to haul in at least one pass in the game, including one of four tight ends to have a reception. Dallas Walker led all tight ends with 36 yards on four catches.
Winchester, who rushed for 48 yards on nine carries, scored from 12 yards with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Left tackle Anthony Parker sealed off what seemed to be the entire defensive line to allow Winchester to get the edge and race toward the pylon for the score. WMU's final offensive TD may have been its prettiest.
The Bronco offense took over on the defensive side of field at the 49-yard line. Carder rushed the ball for five yards before finding Jamelle Murray for three yards. Murray also had a 37-yard reception earlier in the game when he broke away from Toler's tackle attempt and raced to the six-yard line before being caught from behind by Scott Hinds.
Arnheim, in the shot gun, rushed for three more yards and then was the intended target of Carder on the next play. A pass interference call was made, giving the offense the ball on the 22-yard line. A completion to Wallace and a tripping call by the offense pushed WMU back to the 28-yard line. Carder hit Wallace in the near flat. He looked to be in Doug Wiggins' sights at the four-yard line but a side step to the right left Wiggins flat-footed and Wallace walked into the end zone.
Despite the lop-sided final score, the Bronco defense only trailed the offense by a score of 20-11 at the break. Toler's 10 tackles were two better than Vernon Stewart's eight. Mitch Zajac added six and four Broncos, Chris Prom, Tronic Williams, Deauntay Legrier and Matt Cutler, each had five stops apiece.
Toler was one of five Broncos with a tackle for loss. Also recording TFLs were Legrier, Dex Jones, Nick Norton and Andrew Sharp. Norton and Legrier were the only two defensive players to register a sack. Damond Smith, Stewart and Toler all had at least on pass break up with Toler batting one ball away and delivering a huge hit, separating the receiver from the ball on the second.
As was the case in 2009, the defense made the final big play of the game. After a time out by the offense with four seconds remaining, Scriven carried the ball to the near side. He fumbled without being touched and Cutler scooped it up for the recovery, giving the defense three points according to the scoring system.
