Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan football team authored a strong defensive effort in the first half to hold close with Buffalo, but the Bulls pulled away in the second half to defeat the Broncos 33-0 at Waldo Stadium on Saturday. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 0-7 on the season, 0-3 in Mid-American Conference play.
The defense was stout in the first half, giving up their lowest total of first half points this season (6) and allowing no points in the second quarter for the first time this season. That six-point half ranks as the lowest offensive output for the Bulls in the first half of a game this season. The Broncos were able to disrupt the backfield throughout the half, recording 7.0 tackles for loss, their highest total for a game this season.
Corey Davis was the top offensive threat for the Broncos, recording eight catches for 92 yards, an average of 11.5 yards per catch. Dareyon Chance rushed nine times for 54 yards, including a long run of 21 yards in the first half. Defensively, Justin Currie had a game-high 15 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass break-up, while Mike Jones had 14 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, half a sack, and a pass break-up. All told, the Broncos recorded a season high 12.0 tackles for loss, with Johnnie Simon and Cleveland Smith notching the team-highs of 2.5 TFL apiece.
Despite being held scoreless in the first half, the Bronco offense moved freely between the 20s, compiling 157 yards of offense and reaching the red zone twice. However, turnovers and bad luck conspired to keep the Broncos off the board in the half; Andrew Haldeman just narrowly missed a 33-yard field goal at the end of the half that would have cut Buffalo's lead to 6-3, and a 58-yard potential scoring drive was stopped when Najja Johnson intercepted Zach Terrell's pass intended for Corey Davis at the Buffalo 17.
Buffalo was the first team on the board, though, with Devin Campbell reaching the end zone from one yard out at the 9:27 mark of the first quarter. However, the Broncos were able to keep the Bulls from tacking on the extra point with an excellent special teams effort, as Simon came around the edge untouched to stuff the kick and keep the score at 6-0.
The Bulls tacked on 17 points in the third quarter, starting with Patrick Clarke's 51-yard field goal at the 13:24 mark to give Buffalo a 9-0 lead. They later capped a six-play, 39-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown pass from Joe Licata to Mason Shreck, and Licata connected with Fred Lee on a 28-yard pass at the 5:42 mark to make it a 23-0 deficit.
Buffalo added another touchdown in the fourth quarter, a two-yard pass from Licata to Alex Neutz with 12 minutes remaining, and a 36-yard field goal from Clarke at the 6:27 mark to set the final deficit at 33-0.
