Football | October 15, 2018

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Rivalries are at the heart of college football and the rivalry between Western Michigan and Central Michigan marks one of the best in the nation. The Broncos and Chippewas will line up against one another once again in the 89th all-time meeting on Saturday, Oct. 20 in Mount Pleasant. The game will be carried on ESPN and is a 3 p.m. kickoff.

PROXIMITY OF THE SCHOOLS
Western Michigan and Central Michigan are separated by approximately 2.5 hours, roughly 134 miles, with WMU being located in the southwest region of the state in Kalamazoo, Mich., and CMU being located in Mount Pleasant in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula, north east of Kalamazoo.

THE TROPHIES AT STAKE
The two compete in the Mid-American Conference, battling each other in the West Division. In addition to conference standings and possible division titles and conference championships on the line, the two fight each year for the "Battle of the Cannon Trophy" and the "Michigan MAC Trophy."

ALL-TIME SERIES
The storied football history between Western Michigan and Central Michigan dates back to the early 1900's. These archrivals first met in 1907, with Western Michigan posting a 27-0 victory. Entering Saturday's game, the Broncos own a 48-38-2 record against their opponents from the north. WMU is 5-2 against CMU over the last seven seasons with the two losses in that span both coming in Kalamazoo (2013, 27-22 / 2017, 35-28).

The two in-state rivals have faced one another for 45 consecutive years, dating back to 1973. Since 1973, the outcome of the game has been decided by 10 points or fewer 24 times, and on 12 occasions by 5 points or less, in addition to one tie (18-18, 1982). The only overtime contest came in 2004, with CMU winning 24-21.

Last season in Kalamazoo, Western Michigan led 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 heading into the fourth quarter, but Central Michigan scored 21 unanswered points to stun WMU, 35-28 inside Waldo Stadium. The last time the two met in Mount Pleasant in 2016, Western Michigan rolled to a 49-10 victory in front of a crowd of 30,411; the largest ever to take in a MAC game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Since Central Michigan officially joined the Mid-American Conference in 1975, Western Michigan is 4-16-1 when playing in Mount Pleasant. CMU defended its home field for 27 years until WMU picked up its first win at CMU with the Chippewas as a MAC member in 2002. Accounting for the other three wins - the Broncos have won the last three in the series at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, coming away with victories in 2016, 2014 and 2012. The last time the Chippewas topped WMU in Mount Pleasant was in 2010 (26-22).

COACHES' HISTORY
The Broncos' Tim Lester will face Central Michigan for the second time as a head coach at Western Michigan. As a quarterback at WMU from 1996-99, Lester went 2-2 against the Chippewas under center, winning 38-24 as a sophomore in 1997 and 38-16 as a senior in 1999. Both wins were at home. During his time as an assistant coach at Western Michigan during the 2005 and 2006 seasons the Broncos and Chippewas also split the two meetings. WMU won 31-24 at home in 2005.

John Bonamego is in his fourth year leading Central Michigan's program and is 1-2 as head coach against WMU. Bonamego played at Central Michigan in the mid-80's, as a quarterback and wide receiver, joining the team as a walk-on and going on to earn varsity letters in 1985 & 1986. CMU defeated WMU both of those seasons.

BATTLE FOR THE CANNON
Saturday the Broncos and the Chippewas will battle for the Cannon Trophy, which was established in 2008 between the student governments at Western Michigan and Central Michigan. Both teams fire off cannons after scores at their respective home games, so it seemed natural that a cannon should represent the rivalry. This is the 11th season for the trophy. The teams have split possession of the trophy, each winning it five times. Central Michigan claimed the trophy each of the first three seasons of its existence. The Broncos have claimed victory in five of the last seven years.

Battle for the Cannon Trophy Recipient
2008 - CMU (38-28)
2009 - CMU (34-23)
2010 - CMU (26-22)
2011 - WMU (44-14)
2012 - WMU (42-31)
2013 - CMU (27-22)
2014 - WMU (32-20)
2015 - WMU (41-39)
2016 - WMU (49-10)
2017 - CMU (35-28)

MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
Each year, the three Michigan Mid-American Conference universities - Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan compete for the Michigan MAC Trophy. The trophy is presented to the team with the best record against the other two teams. In the event of a tie the Michigan MAC Trophy remains with the previous holder until one of the other rivals claims the title.

WMU and EMU have claimed the trophy four times, while CMU its current holder had captured it five times. WMU won the trophy in its inaugural year in 2005. The Broncos held the trophy for three-straight seasons from 2014-16. A win over Central Michigan on Saturday would also clinch the Michigan MAC trophy again for Western Michigan who defeated Eastern Michigan 27-24 on Oct. 6.

WMU: 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016
EMU: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
CMU: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017

The Michigan MAC Trophy was created in 2005 by the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. A similar trophy is also awarded in the sport of men's basketball.