TOLEDO, Ohio - Four Mid-American Conference records and five Western Michigan records were either broken or tied in the Broncos' 66-63 loss to Toledo at the Glass Bowl on Tuesday night. In the process Jordan White became the program's career receiving yards and single-season receptions leader.
This is a game that, because it was a loss for the team, will take those involved some time to realize what it really all means. When they are able to take a step back, they will realize that they were a part of history for this program.
WMU and Toledo combined for a MAC record 1,439 total offensive yards on 183 combined plays. The two teams scored more TDs (18) and amassed more points (129) than any other two teams in a game in conference history, but that is just a sampling of what will be remembered.
Alex Carder, who went 38-for-59 without an interception, threw for a program record 548 yards and seven touchdowns. The latter tied Kent State's Jose Davis for the most in a game in MAC history. The former bested a program mark set by Carder on Oct. 1 at Connecticut. His 59 attempts rank fifth in school history and 16th in MAC history. His 38 completions rank fourth at WMU and 15th in the MAC, and his passing yards ranks second in MAC history, just three yards shy of the mark set by Davis against Central Florida in 1997.
Carder threw TDs to five different receivers and ran in another. He hit White for a career-matching three TDs, Clark Mussman for one, the first of the game, one to Robert Arnheim, one to Chleb Ravenell and another to Josh Schaffer, the first of his career.
Schaffer went over 100 yards receiving in a game for the first time in his career, finishing with six catches for 114 yards. Eric Monette also had a career high six grabs for 87 yards.
Carder's favorite target, White, set himself apart from all other receivers in program history with his performance tonight. He is now WMU's all-time leader in career receiving yards with 3,678, a mark that ranks fourth in MAC history. White is now the single-season receptions king with 111 grabs in 2011, which is seven catches clear of Jamarko Simmons' 104 in 2008 and ranks second behind only Freddie Barnes of BGSU's 155 in 2009.
White set a new standard for receiving yards in a season, currently at 1,402 with at least two more games left on the schedule; a number that ties Buffalo's Naaman Roosevelt for sixth in MAC history. His 238 yards against the Rockets ranks third in WMU history and is tied for 10th in MAC history. He is the first Bronco receiver to go over 200 yards receiving in a game since Greg Jennings did so in five over times on Oct. 8, 2005 against Ball State.
John Potter also etched his name in the MAC record book by eclipsing Miami's John Scott for the longest consecutive PATs made streak in a career, currently at 114. He is one points shy of becoming Western Michigan's all-time leading scorer. He is currently tied with Brad Selent at 307 career points.
Despite the basketball-like final score, the Broncos' defense left its mark on this game as well. Western Michigan forced six turnovers in a game for the first time since Nov. 14, 2009 against Eastern Michigan. Toledo had surrendered no more than one turnover in any game all season and had not given up an interception since Sept. 24 at Syracuse. The Rockets gave up three to the Broncos to go along with three fumbles.
Doug Wiggins had the second interception of his career, taking it back 20 yards for his first career pick-six. Demetrius Pettway also had an interception as did true freshman Donald Celiscar, who accounted for half of WMU's take aways, adding a pair of fumble recoveries.
Three Broncos finished with double digit tackles led by Johnnie Simon's 18 stops. He had 10 at halftime. Aaron Winchester and Devon Brant each had 10 tackles apiece.
WMU scored 14 or more points in each quarter against Toledo with a team high 21 points in the fourth quarter. The Broncos held the lead three times in the game, including a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter. Up 35-28 at the 14:06 mark of the third quarter, the Bronco defense stopped Toledo and forced an apparent punt but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty extended the Rockets' drive, which resulted in a game-tying touchdown. Toledo would score two more TDs to take a 49-35 lead before WMU stormed back to tie the game at 49 on Carder's one-yard run at the 13:19 mark of the fourth quarter.
Terrance Owens threw for three TDs and 318 yards for Toledo, going 22-for-27, but it was Toledo's running game that was the difference. Adonis Thomas amassed 218 yards on 30 carries as two different Rockets rushed for two TDs apiece; Thomas and Morgan Williams.
After WMU scored on an eight-yard pass to Ravenell, the Broncos trailed 63-56. Western Michigan attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Toledo and five plays later Jeremiah Detmer gave Toledo a 10-point cushion on a 39-yard field goal. Even though WMU scored 47 seconds later, one of five sub-minute scoring drives, Toledo secured the Broncos' second onside kick attempt and ran out the clock.
Western Michigan has two games remaining on its 2011 regular season schedule with a trip to Miami on Nov. 16 scheduled to air on either ESPN or ESPN2. The Broncos will need to win out to secure a 7-5 record and the opportunity to play in a post-season bowl game for the third time in six seasons.
