ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Western Michigan University's football team struck for an early lead, but it wasn't enough to overcome Michigan's big-play defense and the lightning in the area, as the Wolverines came away with a 34-10 weather-shortened victory in front of 110,506 fans at Michigan Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Before inclement weather caused the game to be canceled with 1:27 to play in the third quarter, WMU got strong performances from Jordan White and Alex Carder. However, the Michigan defense came up big, forcing three turnovers and converting two directly for scores.

Carder and White proved to be just as dynamic as they were last season, with Carder finding the senior receiver 12 times for 119 yards. Carder finished 22-of-31 passing on the afternoon, throwing for 183 yards. He was intercepted once. Tevin Drake added 65 yards on 10 carries. Defensively, the Broncos were paced by senior safety Doug Wiggins with nine tackles.

White's 119 yards, 96 in the first half, marked the the 12th time he has gone over the 100-yard mark in a game in his career, tying him with Jamarko Simmons for third on the career list.  His 12 catches ranks 11th all-time at WMU.  White now has 2,395 career receiving yards, moving past former teammate Juan Nunez for fifth on the career list.

Linebacker Brandon Herron was everywhere defensively for the Wolverines, returning an interception and a fumble each for touchdowns. Fitzgerald Touissant and Michael Shaw paced the Wolverine rushing attack, with Touissant racking up 80 yards on 11 carries and Shaw adding 54 yards on four carries. Heisman Trophy hopeful Denard Robinson finished 9-of-13 passing for 98 yards and rushed eight times for 46 yards.

A strong start by the Brown & Gold left the outcome in doubt early. A 15-play, 74-yard scoring drive chewed up the first 7:11 of game time, capped by a one-yard plunge by Antoin Scriven on a fourth and goal. Carder was a perfect 8-8 for 56 yards on the opening drive, including third down completions to White and Robert Arnheim to keep the chains moving. A big completion to White on a 3rd-and-7 set the Broncos up first and goal at the Wolverine eight-yard line. A quick plunge by Drake and a completion to Chleb Ravenell put the Broncos on the doorstep at the one, but a Carder dive was stopped to set up fourth and goal. Scriven was able to pound the ball in on off a handoff from a yard out to give the Broncos their first lead of the season.

Michigan came back with a long drive of its own to tie the score at seven-apiece. A 17-play, 76-yard drive chewed up 8:33 of clock time and brought the game into the early second quarter. The Broncos had a chance to stop the Wolverines on a fourth and one from the 22, but a dive through the middle by Touissant kept the drive alive. Touissant capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown rush.

The turning point came with the Broncos driving deep inside the Wolverine five-yard line and the score knotted at 7-7 in the second quarter. A Carder pass was tipped in the air at the line of scrimmage by Jake Ryan and picked off by Herron, who returned the ball 94 yards to pay dirt to give the Wolverines a 14-7 lead with 6:58 to play in the second quarter.

That play appeared to wake up the Wolverines, who then forced a three-and-out and marched right down the field with a nine-play 74-yard drive to make the score 20-7.  Touissant capped the drive with a two-yard burst up the middle. Johnnie Simon blocked the extra point for WMU, the first blocked kick of his career.

WMU responded, running the two-minute offense down the field with three quick completions to White to set the Broncos up at the Michigan 19-yard line. However, the Broncos were unable to come away with six after three straight incompletions. A 36-yard field goal by John Potter made the score 20-10 with 47 seconds remaining before the break. WMU out-gained the Wolverines 199-146 in the first half.

The Bronco defense tried to help swing the momentum back the way of the Brown & Gold, forcing a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half before lightning struck for the first time, resulting in an extended weather delay. However, Michigan's defense came away with yet another big play after play resumed to make the score 27-10. A forced fumble by Jordan Kovacs wound up in the hands of Herron, who returned it 28 yards for his second TD of the game and a 17-point Wolverine lead with 9:27 to play in the third quarter.

The Wolverine defense forced a three-and-out by the Broncos, which led to another quick Michigan strike. In three plays, the Wolverines covered 87 yards, with two rushes covering the distance. A Touissant 43-yard run was followed by an incompletion, but Shaw took the next carry 44-yards untouched to the end zone for a 34-10 lead for the Maize and Blue with 6:01 to play in the third.

One of the bright spots for the Broncos on the afternoon was the return game. Kick returner Dervon Wallace consistently set up the Brown and Gold with favorable field position, averaging 31.3 yards per kick return.  Wallace's 188 kick return yards ranks third in a game at WMU behind Brandon West (212) and Rashad McDade (195).

After a second weather delay it was decided by the officials, coaches and athletic directors to end the game with the score as it was and record the game as a final with Michigan the winner.  It was the first time a game has been canceled at Michigan Stadium due to weather.

WMU will return home for CommUniverCity Night on Saturday, Sept. 10 against Nicholls with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Waldo Stadium. Live coverage will be available on the Bronco Radio Network and through Bronco Insider.