BOISE, Idaho. – The Western Michigan football team saw its season come to an end after falling 49-18 to Brigham Young University at the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertson Stadium on the campus of Boise State University on Friday night.
The night marks the final game for WMU's nine-man senior class, including running back Jamauri Bogan. Bogan finishes his career with 3,327 yards rushing, the fifth-most in program history. Bogan led WMU with 62 yards rushing on 13 carries. LeVante Bellamy had 56 yards on the ground and 45 receiving on a career-high six receptions. Justin Tranquill had a team-high eight tackles, with Corvin Moment making five, including 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack.
Brigham Young got on the board first after a bad punt gave BYU field position at the WMU 27. Zach Wilson connected with Dylan Collie from 26-yards out to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead with 2:20 to go in the first quarter.
After being held in check by the BYU defense, WMU's fortunes changed thanks to a big play by the Bronco defense. The Cougars attempted a trick play and Moment forced a fumble that was recovered by Stefan Clairborne at the BYU 40. WMU moved the ball to the 33 before facing a fourth-and-three. Eleby handed it off to Bogan, who went inside but then kicked outside and took it to the house for his 43rd rushing touchdown of his career and his fifth in a bowl game. Gavin Peddie added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:07 left to go in the half.
WMU forced the Cougars to punt on the ensuing drive. Eleby used his arms and his legs to get the Broncos down to the BYU 20, where Peddie connected on a 37-yard field goal to send Western Michigan to the half with a 10-7 lead.
Brigham Young quickly responded to open the third quarter. Wilson connected with Neil Pau'u for 48 yards on the first play of the half to get down to the WMU 21. After a penalty gave the Cougars the ball at the WMU 8-yard line, Wilson found Collie in the endzone for the second time of the game to take a 14-10 lead.
BYU added three more touchdowns in the third quarter to push ahead 35-10 heading into the fourth.
Eleby ran one in from one-yard out after a 54-yard completion to D'Wayne Eskridge got WMU down to the BYU 7-yard line to cut the score to 42-18. The Cougars added a late touchdown by Bray El-Bakari to push ahead 49-18.
