KALAMAZOO, Mich.  –  A slow start, coupled with key turnovers on special teams put Western Michigan football into a hole it couldn't escape from as the Broncos fell to Ohio, 59-14 on Thursday night.

Western Michigan drops its second straight game and now has an overall record of 6-4. Despite the loss the Broncos still remain tied for second in the MAC West standings at 4-2 with two games remaining. WMU travels to Ball State on Tuesday, Nov. 13 before hosting Northern Illinois in the regular season finale on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

In his first collegiate start freshman quarterback Kaley Eleby went 10-for-19 for 152 yards and one touchdown.  Last week against Toledo Eleby threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns, the most yards and passing touchdowns by a quarterback in his debut in school history.

Through the air seven different Broncos had a reception with junior D'Wayne Eskridge leading the way with three receptions for 50 yards. On the ground WMU totaled 118 rushing yards as freshman Chase Brown had a career-high 15 attempts for 52 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball junior Justin Tranquill led the team with nine tackles followed by fellow junior Stefan Claiborne with seven. Junior Najee Clayton had four tackles to go along with one tackle for loss and one QB hurry.

The Broncos hurt themselves in the first half committing five turnovers with one interception and four fumbles. Ohio capitalized on the turnovers scoring 24 points as the Bobcats took a 45-0 lead into halftime. The Bobcats totaled 273 yards of total offense in the first half compared to WMU's, 119.  

Ohio junior quarterback Nathan Rouke accounted for 217 yards and five touchdowns in the first half, throwing for three and running for two more. WMU junior LeVante Bellamy led the Bronco rushing attack in the first half with 42 yards on nine attempts.

WMU forced an Ohio punt on the first drive of the second half and capitalized with an 11 play, 65-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard touchdown run by senior Jamauri Bogan. It was Bogan's team-leading 11^th touchdown of the season and 38^th of his career. Bogan is now one rushing touchdown away from tying Jerome Persell for second most in school history.  

Early in the fourth quarter the Broncos got back on the scoreboard as redshirt freshman wide receiver Jaylen Hall registered his first career touchdown, hauling in a pass from Eleby from 26 yards out. Hall became the eighth different receiver this season to record a touchdown. The Brown & Gold outgained Ohio in the second half, 151-147.

After playing three games in 13 days the Broncos will have nine days to prepare for its next game on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Ball State.