MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. –  Western Michigan football became bowl eligible for a fifth-straight season after defeating in-state rival Central Michigan, 35-10, Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. After starting the season with two Power 5 losses, Western Michigan (6-2) has rattled off six wins in a row and is 4-0 in Mid-American Conference play.

The Broncos sit tied atop the MAC West standings with Northern Illinois and are one of three MAC teams remaining without a conference loss. Buffalo is the leader in the MAC East with an overall record of 7-1 and is 4-0 in the league standings. It's the third time in the last four years that Western Michigan has begun MAC play 4-0.

With the win over CMU, Western Michigan regains possession of the Cannon Trophy, claiming the trophy between the two rivals for the fourth time in the last five years. The Brown & Gold also won back the Michigan MAC Trophy, which is a trophy competed for between WMU, CMU and Eastern Michigan and is awarded to team with the best record against the other two schools. Western Michigan went 2-0 against its directional counterparts this season, also defeating Eastern Michigan, 27-24. WMU held both trophies for a three-year span from 2014-16, before losing them to CMU last year.

Saturday's win was the first for head coach Tim Lester in Mount Pleasant against CMU as a Bronco. Lester played quarterback at WMU from 1996-99 and was 2-2 against CMU with both wins coming at home. As an assistant coach for WMU in 2005, 2006, the Broncos defeated CMU at home 31-24 in 2005. Lester won against CMU at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as an assistant at Syracuse in 2014.

With cold and rainy conditions, the Broncos dominated the run game as WMU outrushed CMU, 305-147, and had 369 total yards compared to CMU's, 269.

Defensively the Broncos forced three turnovers with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Junior LeVante Bellamy and senior Jamauri Bogan each had 19 rushing attempts. Bellamy had a game-high 145 yards and one touchdown, for his fourth 100-yard game this season. Bogan ended the evening with 97 yards and a touchdown and became the seventh player in WMU history to eclipse 3,000 career rushing yards.

Junior quarterback Jon Wassink had a career day running the ball, recording a career-high three rushing touchdowns on eight attempts. With tough weather conditions, Wassink went 5-of-9 through the air for 51 yards.

Junior linebacker Alex Grace spearheaded the Bronco defense with a team-high 11 tackles to go along with his first career interception early in the fourth quarter. Junior Justin Tranquill guided the Bronco secondary with nine tackles and his first career interception late in the second quarter.

The game began with each team recording two three and outs before being forced to head to the locker room due to a lightning delay. After a 40-minute delay the Bronco offense came alive scoring 14 straight points.

Wassink got the scoring started with a two-yard touchdown run midway through the first to give WMU an early lead. Early in the second quarter, senior Eric Assoua forced a fumble that was picked up by junior Drake Spears and returned into CMU territory. A play later, Bellamy scampered in from 40 yards out for his fifth rushing touchdown of the season.

To end the half, the Broncos embarked on a 13 play, 96-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes and was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from Bogan. WMU took a 21-0 lead into halftime, marking the second time this season WMU has posted a first half shutout.

Central Michigan was on the comeback trail in the third quarter scoring 10 unanswered points to cut the Bronco lead to 21-10 heading into the fourth. In the third the Chippewas outgained the Broncos, 106-68.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Grace intercepted a pass from CMU quarterback Tommy Lazzaro to put the Broncos into Chippewa territory. Three plays later, Wassink scored his second rushing touchdown of the day from three yards out to give WMU a 28-10 lead. Wassink ran for his third later in the fourth to cap off a 10 play, six-minute drive to seal the 35-10 victory.

The Broncos have a short five-day turnaround, hosting defending MAC champion Toledo on Thursday, Oct. 25. WMU returns a week later to host Ohio on Thursday, Nov. 1, which will mark the Broncos' third game in a 13-day span.

Tickets for both home  games start at $16 and are available at wmubroncos.com/tickets. Western Michigan plays three of its final four games at home.