MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -A fourth quarter unlike any other this season was the key to Western Michigan defeating CMU, 42-31, on the road for the first time since 2002 and for only the second time since 1973.

The Broncos entered the final frame trailing 23-14 but 257 yards of offense and 28 points were enough to get the job done, but it was a special teams play that sealed the deal.  We will get to that in a minute.

Trailing 31-28, the Broncos took over at their own 33-yard line. Tyler Van Tubbergen, who again threw for over 300 yards (362 on 23-for-33 passing) focused on his senior receiver Eric Monette.  The hometown kid, playing his first snaps in this rivalry, had a career day culminating with this drive.  TVT and Monette connected four times for 71 yards on the drive.

The signature play was a 31-yard completion down the near sideline over the defender to put the ball at CMU's 24.  On the next play Monette's number was called again, sneaking into the end zone to give WMU a 35-31 lead. 

Now to the big special teams play.  On the ensuing kick off, with 2:51 on the clock, CMU return man Courtney Williams hits the pile and Rontavious Atkins finds him, strips the ball and Lewis Toler, who had five tackles on the day, came away with the ball.  Facing third-and-five at the CMU 42, Dareyon Chance closed the door with the longest rush of his career, 42 yards to the house.

Chance finished with 111 yards on 19 carries, his third 100-yard rushing game of the season.  He is now 170 yards from reaching 1,000 for the season.  Monette registered his second-straight 100-yard game, breaking loose for a career high 11 catches for a career high 196 yards.

WMU's first two scores of the quarter came on TVT to Justin Collins hook ups.  The first came from 28 yards out and the second came from 22 yards out.  Those were the only two catches of the day for Collins and both were for scores.

Western Michigan took a lead into halftime for the sixth time this season on the strength of the defense holding CMU to maily field goals in the first half.  Three drives went deep into WMU territory but the Chippewas managed just two field goals, another attempt was blocked by Freddie Bishop.

Trailing, 6-0, TVT found Blake Hammond on a seam route for 55 yards and WMU's opening score.  Hammond, who had two grabs for 75 yards, shed two tackler on the way to the longest reception of his career.  Van Tubbergen scored his third rushing TD of the year, running untouched for 18 yards to pay dirt to put WMU up 14-6 with 8:28 to go before the break.

CMU's lone TD came due to a TVT interception while under extreme pressure.  Zurlon Tipton, who finished with 112 yards on the ground, scored from a yard out to make the score 14-13 in favor of the Broncos at halftime.

The Chippewas built its nine-point lead by scoring 10 straight points in the third.  Ryan Radcliffe, who had 383 yards on 26-for-41 passing, looked for and found Titus Davis 10 times for 208 yards.  It is the first opposing receiver to reach 200 yards since Jabari Arthure had 223 on Oct. 6, 2007.

Western Michigan snapped its three-game skid with this win and have its sights set on its third-straight season being bowl eligible.  The next test will be come in the form of the Broncos' final road game of 2012 at Buffalo on Nov. 10 at 3:30 p.m.