Football | October 16, 2019
Western Michigan (4-3, 2-1 MAC) at Eastern Michigan (3-3, 0-2 MAC)
Rynearson Stadium (30,200) • Ypsilanti, Mich.
Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 • 7 p.m.
Live Stream: ESPN+
Radio: Bronco Radio Network
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Coach Lester & Justin Tranquill Press Conference | Watch Replay
Bronco Review Radio Show | Listen to Replay
Bronco Updates | Listen to Replays
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Western Michigan heads to Ypsilanti for its second road Mid-American Conference tilt, facing Eastern Michigan for a 7 p.m. kick on ESPN+.
• Last Saturday, the Broncos earned a 38-16 Homecoming victory versus Miami (Ohio) while the Eagles fell 29-23 to Ball State in Ypsilanti.
•  WMU leads the all-time series with EMU, 34-18-2 ... The Broncos have captured five straight versus the Eagles, including a 27-24 Homecoming victory last year in Kalamazoo ... Western Michigan's last loss to Eastern Michigan was by a 35-32 final in Ypsilanti during the 2013 campaign.
• Western Michigan is aiming for its fifth consecutive year starting Mid-American Conference play at 3-1 or better ... The 2013 campaign that started with an 0-4 league record was the last in which the Broncos did not take at least three of the first four MAC games.
• The Broncos are looking for their first road win of the season, and first road victory since topping Central Michigan 35-10 on October 20, 2018.
• Saturday's game marks the final matchup in the round-robin competition for the Michigan MAC Trophy ... Created in 2005 by the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, the Michigan MAC Trophy is presented annually to the team with the best round-robin record among Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan ... The Broncos received the trophy in 2018 ... A similar trophy is also awarded in men's basketball.
• Western Michigan has been a turnover creating machine in the last six games, forcing 15 TOs during the stretch with at least two per contest ... WMU ranks tied for fourth nationally in turnovers gained this fall with 15.
WESTERN MICHIGAN vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN
• The Broncos and Eagles will meet for the 55th time Saturday with Western Michigan leading the series, 34-18-2. WMU has won the last five against EMU.Â
• Last year in Kalamazoo, the Broncos earned a 27-24 victory as Western Michigan rushed for three touchdowns. LeVante Bellamy reached the end zone twice, on a 14-yard run and 15-yard pass from Jon Wassink.Â
• The last time the two met in Ypsilanti was a 20-17 overtime Bronco win on October 21, 2017. Josh Grant kicked a 21-yard field goal for the win as the Eagles missed their 24-yard attempt..
Series vs. Eastern Michigan: Western Michigan leads 34-18-2
Series Streak:Â Western Michigan won 5
Last Meeting:Â 2018 (Western Michigan, 27-24)
Last Western Michigan Win:Â 2018
LIVE STREAMING
• ESPN+ will stream the game on the WatchESPN app. Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst) will call the game.
GAME NOTE NUGGETS
• Senior RB LeVante Bellamy has rushed for 764 yards (109.14 yards/game), the fourth most by a Bronco running back through the initial seven games since the 2000 season.
• Bellamy is tied for the national lead in rushes of 30+ yards with eight and tied for the top spot in rushes of 40+ yards with five. He also stands fifth nationally with his 10 rushing scores, two away from cracking the WMU single-season top-10 chart.Â
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• With his 135 rushing yards against Miami (Ohio),
Bellamy became the eighth 3,000-yard rusher in WMU history.
Jarvion Franklin (2014-17) owns the career mark with 4,867 ground yards.
• True freshman WR
Skyy Moore had his best performance of the year at Toledo with career highs in receptions (seven) and yards (101). Moore is the third Bronco to reach the 100-yard plateau this year. Within the MAC, Moore is tied for seventh in receptions and tops all rookies in catches. Nationally among freshmen, Moore stands tied for sixth in receptions.
• Junior WR
Jaylen Hall has been one of WMU's prime targets in the last two road games, at Syracuse and at Toledo, combining for seven receptions for 159 yards and two scores during the two tilts. Hall tops the Mid-American Conference in average reception yardage in road/neutral site contests at 22.71 yards per grab and is tied for third in the league with two TD receptions away from home, one off the league lead.Â
• Last Saturday against Miami (Ohio), graduate transfer WR
Keith Mixon Jr. became the second Bronco this fall with two TD catches in a contest, joining Ricci's two versus Monmouth. Mixon Jr. turned in his top performance as a Bronco versus the RedHawks with 84 receiving yards and first two TDs of the campaign.
• Senior LB
Drake Spears intercepted the second and third passes of his career in the last two games, collecting one at Toledo and one versus Miami (Ohio). Spears, the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week, returned his INT versus the RedHawks 74 yards for a score, making him the first Bronco with an interception returned for a touchdown since
Darius Phillips took one 43 yards against Kent State on November 8, 2017.
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• With senior
D'Wayne Eskridge out for the year due to injury, sophomore
Patrick Lupro has made his first three career starts and excelled in the situation. Last week against Miami (Ohio), Lupro tied WMU's high for pass breakups in a game this season with four and added his second pick of the season, returning it 24 yards.
• After leading all MAC underclassmen in tackles for lost yards in 2018, junior DE
Ali Fayad is causing havoc in 2019, ranking third in the MAC with 8.0 TFL. Fayad has at least 1.0 TFL in five of the last six games, including a year-best 2.5 versus Georgia State and last week against Miami (Ohio). Fayad has booked at least 0.5 sacks in each of the last three games, and four of the last five, including a year-best 2.0 versus the RedHawks. He is tied for third in the MAC with 4.5 sacks.
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• In Western Michigan's last two second halves, the Broncos have allowed 261 total yards (130.5 yards/half) and 17 points (8.5 points/half). WMU has yielded a combined 115 passing yards in the third and fourth quarters to Toledo and Miami (Ohio) during the last two games.Â
• Nationally, the Broncos rank tied for fourth with 15 turnovers gained. WMU is tied for sixth with its nine passes intercepted and tied for 11th with its six fumbles recovered. Western Michigan already has nine interceptions after finishing the 2018 campaign with nine total.
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